SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Left fielder Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C.) collected three hits to go along with five RBI and two runs as USC Upstate downed North Carolina A&T, 12-7, on Wednesday afternoon at Harley Park.

The Aggies (1-4) got on the scoreboard first as Kelvin Freeman and Luke Tendler both delivered RBI singles in the first inning to give NC A&T the early 2-0 advantage.

The Spartans (3-2) cut the deficit to one as Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill.) scored on Trey Richardson's (Lakeland, Fla.) RBI double to right center field in the bottom of the first.

Upstate went ahead for good with a four run second inning.  Grason Wiggins (Statesboro, Ga.) tied the game at two when he scored on Miller's RBI single.  Miller gave the Spartans a 3-2 lead as Luke Weber (Spartanburg, S.C.) doubled to right field.  The Spartans tacked on two more runs, both with two outs, as Weber scored on Gaither Bumgardner's (Fort Lawn, S.C.) single to right field.  Bumgardner later scored when Richardson singled to second base.

The Aggies cut the lead to 5-3 in the top of the third when Kelvin Freeman homered to left field.

The bottom of the fourth inning started with back-to-back singles by Bumgardner and Cook.  Cook reached first but a late and errant throw by Aggie third baseman Mark Nales allowed Bumgardner to score while Cook easily reached third.   

Cook scored on a wild pitch to put the Spartans in front 7-3.  Upstate capped the five run inning as Miller hit a three-run homer, his first homerun of the season.

The Aggies were able to add four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to cut the Spartan lead to three, 10-7, before the Spartans added two in the eighth, setting the finally tally at 12-7.

Upstate starter Andrew Wyant (Newton, N.C.) picked up his first win of the season as he pitched 5.2 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits.  In his first start of the season, Wyant struck out five batters.

Ryan Fern (Oviedo, Fla.) was credited with the save, his first of 2011, as the junior pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six.

Aggie starter Dustin Myers pitched just four innings as Upstate collected 12 hits off of the lefty and scored 10 runs (all earned).  N.C. A&T went to the bullpen five times in the game and the Aggie bullpen allowed two runs on one hit.

Aside from Miller's 3-for-5 effort, the Spartans received help from Bumgardner and Richardson.  Bumgardner collected two hits to go along with two runs and one RBI while Richardson added two hits and two RBI.

The Spartans will return to action on Friday as they host Presbyterian College at 4:00 p.m.