March 20, 2009

Final Stats

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Two offspeed pitches got away from the Mercer reliever in the bottom of the ninth inning and a fastball pierced freshman Adam Waters' chest, loading the bases with one out and setting up a walk off fielder's choice by junior Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Starr's Mill) as the USC Upstate baseball took a 5-4 win from Mercer in the opening game of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference set at Harley Park on Friday night.

After a two-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth from Joe Winker tied the game at four and left the Spartans (7-11 overall, 2-5 A-Sun) reeling, the team got some immediate help in the bottom of the inning, as both junior Ryan Wilkins (Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) and freshman Branden Millhouse (Summerville, S.C./Summerville) wore curveballs to the chest to put runners on first and second with no outs. After a strikeout on a bunt attempt, a pitching change resulted in Waters getting nicked by a fastball to load the bases. On an 0-2 count, Tanner drove a grounder to second base and after the second baseman tagged Waters running to second, he uncorked a low throw that got past the first baseman in the double play attempt, allowing Wilkins to score and end the game.

The game started sharp, with both starting pitchers racking up strikeouts and shutting down the opponent. For Upstate, junior ace Matt Branham (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) posted his best start of the young season, tossing eight innings, allowing 10 hits and three walks, but just two runs. He struck out nine and threw a season-high 141 pitches. Mercer's Lath Guyer pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs. He struck out a career-high tying 10.

The Spartans took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, as it manufactured a run with two outs as senior Tommy Shovlin (Merritt Island, Fla./Daytona Beach C.C.) walked, stole second and scored on a double down the left field line by freshman Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla./Trinity Prep).

The Bears (5-9 overall, 1-3 A-Sun) got the run back in the fourth as Tyler McCarty doubles to lead off and a single by Casey Stuart brought him in with two outs. However, Upstate took the lead back with a run in the fifth, as Wilkins reached on an error with one out, stole second took third on a grounder and scored on a Texas League double by senior Kyle Simpson (Lyman, S.C./Byrnes).

The Spartans tallied another run in the sixth inning, as Tanner led off with a walk, took second on a sacrifice, third on a single through the right side from freshman Austin Moyer (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) and scored on a bloop single over the first baseman's head from Liput.

Mercer had a chance to take the lead in the eighth, as McCarty walked to lead off and Winker was hit by a pitch. A single to center by Jacob Tanis was lost in the lights, loading the bases. Branham reached down to strike out the next batter, but Stuart came through with an RBI single to left to score a run. With runners on first and third with one out, Branham again reached deep as his pitch count rose to more than 130 pitches, striking out another batter on a 3-2 changeup and then getting a fly to right to end the inning and keep the 3-2 lead in tact.

Upstate got an important insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Tanner walked to lead off. After a strikeout, Moyer roped a double into the right-center gap to plate Tanner from first, setting up the dramatic ninth frame.

Junior Barrett Stover (Durham, N.C./Lenoir C.C.) (1-1) blew his first save of the season thanks to Winker's homer, but settled down to get a fly out to end the ninth and ended up earning the win. He allowed two hits and two runs in the ninth. J.T. Odom (1-1) got the loss for Mercer, allowing one run and two hit batters in one inning of work. He struck out two.

The Spartans were led by freshmen Moyer and Liput, as Moyer finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and Liput was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Both Tanner and Wilkins scored twice for the Spartans.

Mercer was led by Tanis, who finished 3-for-5, and Michael Langley, Winker and Stuart each added two hits. Both Winker and Stuart had two RBIs.

Upstate will get back in action on Saturday at Harley Park with the second of the three-game set with Mercer. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Stan Smith '04 is set to throw out the first pitch as part of Upstate's season-long Alumni First Pitch Calendar.