University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Stetson
Spartans Fall In Doubleheader Set At Stetson
5/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2008
DeLAND, Fla. - Senior Andrew Runion (Simpsonville, S.C./Mauldin) notched three hits on the day to move into a tie for eighth in school history, just five hits from becoming the eighth player to reach 200 career hits for the USC Upstate baseball team, but it wasn't enough to get Upstate past Stetson in an Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Melching Field, falling 10-4 in the first game and 12-10 in the nightcap.
Runion, who went 3-for-7 with three runs, two doubles, two walks and three RBIs during the two games, tied Eric Smith (1992-95) for eighth in the Upstate record book with 195 career hits. His 75 hits this season are tied for ninth in school history, with both other 75-hit campaigns done by Chris Nowak in 2003 and 2004.
The second game was a wild affair with two lead changes, as Upstate (23-27 overall, 15-15 A-Sun) held a 9-4 lead in the fifth inning before Stetson (22-31 overall, 12-18 A-Sun) reeled off eight straight runs to come-from-behind for the 12-10 win.
Four runs in the bottom of the eighth by Stetson, using four hits, two Upstate errors helped turn the tide in Stetson's favor, despite a strong relief outing from junior Bret Elliott (Lancaster, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) (0-1), who allowed four hits and three runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief. He kept the ball mainly on the ground, striking out two and walking two.
Upstate got the winning run to the plate in the ninth with two leadoff walks, but a double play left only a runner on third with two outs, however, junior Kyle Simpson (Lyman, S.C./Byrnes) scored on a wild pitch. Freshman Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern) followed with a single, but a strikeout ended the game.
Stetson got on the board in the third inning, as Jeremy Cruz hit a three-run homer to left field. Down 3-0, Upstate stepped up with five two-out runs in the fourth inning. With one out, senior Andrew Runion (Simpsonville, S.C./Lyman) doubled to right center. After a groundout, Simpson singled to left center for an RBI. Junior Brian Dempsey (Montverde, Fla./East Ridge) followed with a single to left field. A wild pitch moved the runners up and a walk by freshman Reed Lishen (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Royal Palm Beach) walked to load the bases. Green was hit by a pitch to drive in Simpson and freshman A.J. Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) followed with a single up the middle for two runs.
The rally continued in the fourth inning with the Spartans crossing the plate four more times. Junior Tommy Shovlin (Merritt Island, Fla./Daytona Beach C.C.) doubled down the right field line to lead off and Runion singled up the middle for an RBI. Junior Phillip Morgan (Campobello, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) doubled to center to score Runion. Simpson reached on a sac bunt that turned into an error. After a strikeout, a fielder's choice brought in Morgan. Green was hit by a pitch again to set up Clark, who singled to score a run.
From there, the Hatters started their rally with two runs on four hits in the fifth and three runs on five hits in the sixth to make it 9-8, where it stood until the eighth inning.
Clark led the Spartans by going 4-for-5 with three RBIs. Runion went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI and Green went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI to help the Spartans' 12-hit attack. The Hatters posted 22 hits in the win with Cruz going 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs and Jeff Simpson also going 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Sean Emory, Casey Frawley, Robert Crews and Josh Clenendenin each added three hits.
David Burns (1-2) earned the win in relief, tossing four innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and five walks. He struck out two.
In the first game, Andy Mauldin pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits and four runs as Stetson broke out with a 10-4 win. Five unanswered runs capped the game for the Hatters, who clinched the win, as Mauldin threw five shutout innings to cap the game.
Stetson jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, scoring the runs on four hits, capped by an RBI double from Brian Pruitt. The Spartans cut the lead to 4-2 in the third inning, as Lishen singled through the right side to lead off and Green followed with a bunt single. After a sac bunt and a popup, Runion followed with a line single to left to score both runners.
After the Hatters scratched a run across in the third inning, Upstate closed within one run in the fourth, as Dempsey led off with a single up the middle and senior Casey Rivers (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) followed with a single through the right side. After a sac bunt, Green singled through the right side to score Dempsey and a sac fly scored Dempsey.
Three more Stetson runs crossed in the bottom of the fifth, led by a leadoff double from Casey Frawley and capped by a single from Justin Bass. A seventh inning homer from Bass and an Emory run in the eighth helped give the Hatters the final 10-4 margin.
Simpson and Green each added two hits to lead the Spartans' 10-hit attack. Bass went 3-for-5 with four runs and two RBIs to lead the Hatters. Frawley went 3-for-4 with two runs and Pruitt went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Senior Scott Eckard (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary) (2-7) pitched five innings, allowing eight hits and seven earned runs in the loss. He struck out one.
Upstate will close out its non-conference season on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. game at the Big South's High Point.
