Austin Redwine held The Citadel to one run and four hits over nearly seven innings while Brandon Waring slammed a go-ahead two-run homer to lead Wofford to a 4-2 win over The Citadel in the championship game of the Southern Conference tournament Saturday evening at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.
The tournament victory marked the first SoCon championship in Wofford's Division I history. As the No. 9 seed, Wofford became the lowest seeded team to ever win the tournament championship.
Redwine, on only two days rest following a 128-pitch outing against No. 1 seed College of Charleston, held the Bulldogs to one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings. Freshman Michael Gilmartin tossed the final 2 1/3 innings and allowed an unearned run and two hits for his eighth save of the season. The win was the 20th of Redwine's career which makes him only the sixth Terrier in school history to reach the 20-win plateau. With his eighth save, Gilmartin ties the school's single season record. The duo combined for seven strikeouts.
Waring, who was named the tournament's most valuable player, yanked a two-run home run with two outs in the sixth inning that erased a 1-0 deficit. With that one swing, Waring surpassed three records including the most home runs and RBIs in the SoCon tournament and the most home runs in a single season in conference history. With a 2-for-4 outing, Waring also set new marks for the most hits and total bases in a tournament and finished with a .560 batting average, five home runs, 16 RBIs and nine runs scored over the five games.
Shane Kirkley went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Terriers. With two home runs in the game, Wofford passed South Carolina for the nation's home run lead with 106 during the regular season.
The game was a pitcher's duel for the first three innings, as Citadel starter Matt Reifsnider scattered two hits and Redwine allowed only one runner to reach base with a walk. Wofford put together back-to-back two-out singles in the top of the fourth but could not capitalize on the opportunity as first baseman Adam Wood lined a hard shot right at center fielder Chance Smith to end the inning.
The Citadel struck first with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth off the bat Swauger. The solo blast was the third of the tournament for Swauger, who entered the game batting .435 over The Citadel's six tournament games. The round tripper also marked the first hit of the game that Redwine allowed.
Redwine got into a jam in the bottom of the fifth but pitched his way out of it after making an excellent defensive play. After hitting Bryan Altman and walking Sid Fallaw to put two runners on with no outs, Redwine fielded a potential sacrifice bunt by Joe Hoerter and spun and threw to third base in time for the force out. Kyle Jordan then lined out to right field before Redwine forced a foul popup to Wood to end the inning.
Waring continued his hot streak with a record-breaking two-run home run in the top of the sixth that put the Terriers up 2-1. Waring's home run, his Southern Conference record 27th of the season, came with two outs and a 1-2 count and drove in Bradford Eaves after the Terrier center fielder singled to the left side. The straight-away two-run blast was also the fifth of the tournament for Waring and drove in his 15th and 16th RBIs of the tournament to set new SoCon tournament records in each category.
Wofford went up 3-1 in the top of the seventh on back-to-back doubles by right fielder Sterling Dye and catcher Keith Munns. Dye ripped the first two-bagger to left-center while Munns drove him home with a ground ball down the third base line that escaped the grasp of a diving Matt Arnold. Following Munns' RBI double, The Citadel brought in right hander Raymond Copenhaver to face Terrier second baseman Eric Sturkie. Sturkie battled and drew a 3-2 walk before the Bulldogs changed pitchers again and called on righty Justin Smith to face leadoff hitter Michael Gilmartin. Gilmartin ripped a high line drive to center field, but Chance Smith made a running, leaping stab to grab the ball and save at least a run. Smith then struck out Eaves with two runners on base to end the inning with only a two-run deficit.
Redwine retired the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but allowed Hoerter and Jordan to reach base with two straight singles. Gilmartin then took the mound with two outs and needed only one pitch to force Smith to ground out to Waring at third base.
Kirkley ripped Wofford's second home run of the game in the top of the eighth to put the Terriers up 4-1. The homer came with a full count on the board and was the 16th of the season for Kirkley, who came into the game with five runs and a .353 batting average for the tournament. Following the homer, The Citadel brought in southpaw Matt Crim, who retired three straight to end the inning.
Gilmartin held The Citadel hitless during the eighth and struck out Altman to begin the ninth. The Bulldogs would not go quietly, however, as pinch hitter Sonny Meade blooped a single to left field. Chris McGuinness followed with a fly ball down the left field line that outfielder John Brandt closed in on, but could not come up with. The error sent Meade to second before pinch hitter Conrad Kellahan ripped another base hit through the right side to load the bases. Gilmartin then struck out Smith for the second out of the inning, but walked in Swauger to narrow the gap to 4-2. The freshman would not be denied his school-record tying eighth save of the season, however, and struck out Zach Brown to seal the win.
Wofford now awaits placement in an NCAA regional. The Terriers will find out during the selection showcase on Monday, May 28 at 12:30 p.m.