March 13, 2010

Final Stats

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Senior Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Starr's Mill) wrapped five hits on Saturday during the USC Upstate baseball team's Atlantic Sun Conference-opening doubleheader against Florida Gulf Coast University, becoming the eighth player in school history to reach 200 career hits and leaping all the way to fifth in the category by the end of the day at Harley Park, but the Spartans fell to FGCU, 20-11, in the completion of Friday's suspended game before falling, 10-9, in the nightcap.

Tanner, who now has 203 career hits, passing Todd Ellison (1987-90, 200), Andrew Runion (2005-08, 201) and Brent Hess (1998-01, 202) during the games, as he went 5-for-9 with five runs during the doubleheader. He also became the 18th player in school history to reach 100 career runs with his second of five in the game.

Down 10-7 heading into the ninth inning, the Spartans (7-9 overall, 0-2 A-Sun) brought the winning run as close as 90 feet before a groundout ended the game, with FGCU (9-4 overall, 2-0 A-Sun) holding on for a narrow 10-9 win after holding a 10-0 lead at the end of the third inning.

With one out in the ninth, freshman Brody Greer (Honea Path, S.C./Belton-Honea Path) doubled down the right field line. After Tanner walked, sophomore Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill./University) doubled into left center to drive in Greer. After a walk reloaded the bases, a sac fly brought in Tanner and moved Cook to third, but a grounder ended the game before Upstate could complete the comeback.

Upstate started its comeback in the sixth inning, as freshman Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill) led off with a walk and sophomore Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla./Trinity Prep) followed with a double in the gap to drive him in. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Liput scored on a single up the middle by Greer. After a fielder's choice, Cook singled and sophomore Austin Moyer (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) doubled to left to score a run. Freshman Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C./Great Falls) followed with a single up the middle to score two runs.

The Spartans continued to rally, scoring two more in the eighth inning as Tanner doubled down the line to lead off and a single by Cook put runners on the corners. After a walk and a strikeout, pinch-hitting junior Andre Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) drove a single up the middle to score two runs. However, a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat.

The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to doubles from Stephen Wickens and Tim Roberson and then, FGCU added eight runs on six hits in the third inning to take the 10-0 advantage. Back-to-back homers by Mikel Alvarez and Tim Roberson highlighted the inning.

After the third, though, senior Tyler Oliver (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) quieted the Eagles, throwing six shutout innings of relief, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out a career-high eight.

Upstate got seven of its 12 hits from the 2-3-4 slots in the lineup with Greer providing, two hits, a double, a run and a RBI, Tanner posting two hits, a double and three runs and Cook providing three hits, two runs, a double and a RBI.

FGCU was powered by the top three hitters in its lineup, as Wickens posted two hits, a double, a run and two RBI, Alvarez notched three hits, a double, a homer and two RBI and Roberson posted four hits, a homer, a double, two runs and two RBI.

Pete Woodworth (4-0) earned the win for FGCU, pitching six innings and allowing six hits and five runs. He walked two and struck out five. Moyer took the loss for Upstate, allowing nine hits and nine earned runs in three innings. He walked three and struck out two.

FGCU scored 18 runs in the middle three innings to take control of the A-Sun opener for both teams, helping it withstand Upstate's nine-run barrage from the sixth to the ninth innings to take the 20-11 win in the completion of a halted game from Friday.

With the score tied at 2, FGCU posted eight runs on eight hits in the fourth inning to take control, as Austin Gaines provided a two-run double in the inning. Four more runs crossed in the fifth, as Mikel Alvarez and Gaines each homered. The Eagles got six more runs on five hits in the sixth inning, as Luke Smierciak provided the big blow with a bases-loaded triple, giving FGCU a 20-2 lead.

The Spartans scored a single run n the bottom of the inning, as sophomore Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill./University) singled before a double by sophomore Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla./Trinity Prep) moved him to third, where he scored on an error.

Upstate added five more runs in the seventh inning, as freshman Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C./Great Falls) led off with a single before Tanner posted a single up the middle, moving to second on the throw. A wild pitch scored Bumgardner and a hit batter put runners back on the corners before Cook drove in Tanner with a single up the middle. Liput followed with a three-run shot to center field to wrap up Upstate's scoring in the inning.

The Spartans scored two more in the eighth as Tanner reached second on an error and Cook hit a homer to center field. In the ninth, freshman Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill) led off with a triple to center and scored on a sac fly.

The two teams each dented the scoreboard in the early innings on Friday evening, with Upstate doing the honors first against A-Sun Preseason Pitcher of the Year Chris Sale, as Bumgardner singled with one out and Tanner hit a grounder up the middle that drilled the second baseman in the ankle before bounding into center field. Bumgardner never stopped, scoring on the play. In the second inning, Mike Reeves knocked a homer off the scoreboard in left-center to tie the game.

The Spartans took a 2-1 lead in the second inning, as junior Andre Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) singled, moved to second on a single by junior Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern), took third on a balk and scored on a grounder. FGCU tied the game on a homer by Zach Maxfield.

All nine FGCU players had at least two hits, with Tim Roberson posting three hits, three runs and two RBI, Maxfield posting three runs, three hits and two RBI, Gaines adding three runs, three hits and five RBI, and Smierciak also adding three hits and five RBI.

The middle of Upstate's order posted 10 of the team's 15 hits, led by Cook, who posted four hits, three runs and three RBI. Tanner added three hits, two runs and a RBI and Liput notched three hits and three RBI thanks to his first career homer.

Sale (1-0) earned the win for the Eagles, tossing five innings, allowing seven hits, a walk and two runs. He struck out five. Junior Philip Brannon (Spartanburg, S.C./Broome) took the loss for Upstate, allowing seven hits and nine runs in two innings. Sophomore Robert Stegbauer (Hillsboro, Ohio/Lynchburg-Clay) threw well in relief allowing two hits and no runs in three innings. He struck out one.

Upstate and FGCU will wrap up their three-game set on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Harley Park.