University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
George Washington
Upstate Drops Slugfest To George Washington, 12-6
3/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 7, 2010
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Three USC Upstate baseball players posted two hits on Sunday afternoon at Harley Park, but the Spartans' 11-hit attack wasn't enough to overcome George Washington, who posted the 12-6 win in non-conference action. Senior Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Starr's Mill), sophomore Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill./University) and senior Brian Dempsey (Montverde, Fla./East Ridge) each posted two hits for the Spartans.
Down 11-2, the Spartans rallied in the eighth inning, scoring four runs, but leaving the bases loaded to close within five runs. Cook led off with a double and junior Joe Barnes (Lake Orion, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) followed with a shot off the wall. After a popout, Dempsey delivered a single into left to score Barnes. A sac bunt was followed by a triple to right center by freshman Brody Greer (Honea Path, S.C./Belton-Honea Path) and after a walk, Tanner delivered a line single into left to score Greer. Another walk loaded the bases, but Cook's bid to clear the bases was quelled when the right fielder made a twisting, tumbling catch to end the threat.
The Colonials scored their final run in the ninth on a double by pinch hitter on a double by Brandon Gillette.
George Washington struck first, scoring a run on an error and two hits in the first inning. Another Colonial run crossed in the second on the strength of a walk, a sac bunt and a single by Tom Zebroski. The Colonials broke open the game with four runs in the fifth inning, using four straight hits to open the inning to do the damage with a double by Tyler McCarthy driving in two runs to highlight the rally.
Two more runs crossed in the sixth for the Colonials, giving them an 8-0 lead. Upstate answered back with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, as Cook singled through the left side and junior Joe Barnes (Lake Orion, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved up on a passed ball before scoring on a single up the middle by sophomore Jeff Medley (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford).
The Colonials answered back with three runs in the seventh, using two doubles and a homer from Chris Luick to take an 11-2 lead.
Tanner added a RBI, Cook scored twice and Dempsey scored and added a RBI to lead Upstate. Medley also finished with two RBI. Tanner passed Eric Smith (1992-95), moving into ninth in school history with 196 career hits.
George Washington was led by Curtis Eward, who went 4-for-5 with two runs and a RBI, Chris Holland, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and a RBI and Zebroski, who went 3-for-5 with two runs and a RBI.
Ryan LaPointe (2-1) earned the win, tossing six innings, allowing four hits, two runs and three walks. He struck out five. Marshall Seedorff earned the save after coming in with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth in a five-run game. He allowed two hits, but struck out one and allowed no runs.
Sophomore Austin Moyer (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) (1-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing nine hits and four earned runs in four innings. He walked three and struck out three.
The Spartans get back into action on Tuesday when they spend the mid-week of their Spring Break in Charleston, S.C., facing Charleston Southern at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the trip on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game at The Citadel.
