Box Score

GREER, SC – Dylan Woodworth, Stephen Stopper and Joel Worthington each raked in three hits apiece as the Mansfield University baseball team cruised to a 12-2 opening day victory over Bluefield State College Friday afternoon at Stevens Field in Greer, SC.

Junior Matt Fisher scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning as Stopper forced in the runner being hit by the pitch. The run was one-of-two scored by Stopper on the day as the redshirt freshman went three-for-five at the plate with two RBI.

Bluefield answered back in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own.

In the second, junior Jon Taddeo hit a one-out single before being brought home by senior Brian Milliman three batters later. Taddeo recorded two hits, two RBI, and reached home three times while Milliman earned a hit, two RBI and a base on balls in the contest.

The Blues tied up the game again in the third, scoring on a throwing error.

Reaching on a single to right in the fourth, Woodworth scored the first of his three runs via a Jon Moser sacrifice fly. Woodworth went three-for-five with an RBI while Moser earned a walk and drove in two runs in the winning effort.

Mansfield brought in two more runs in the fifth before exploding in the sixth, bringing home the first five batters as the Mounties batted around the order. Stopper, Conor Thompson, Joel Worthington, Taddeo and Woodworth all reached home in the Mountaineers red-hot inning.

Starting pitcher Joe Candelmo earned the win giving up just five hits and one earned run through five innings on the bump. The junior, lefty sat down four batters.

Bluefield's Chris Rabe was saddled with the loss, giving up six hits and three earned runs while issuing five walks.

Freshman Anthony Renz scored a run in the eighth while Stopper added another in the ninth on a one-run homer over the left field wall.

Juniors Ernie Ruch and Matt Fisher each drew three walks apiece with Ruch bringing in two RBI and Fisher reaching home once.

Junior Curtis Harpster, senior Eric Conway and freshman Jeremy Mapstone all pitched in relief. The trio combined for six K's while giving up just one hit and no runs.

Mansfield plays a twinbill against Salem International tomorrow at Stevens Field. First pitch is set for 11am.