April 14, 2010

Final Stats

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Another late inning rally helped the USC Upstate baseball team win its second straight game as the Spartans scored eight runs in the last two innings to overcome UNC Asheville, 9-6, on a beautiful Tuesday at McCormick Field. Sophomore Jeff Medley (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) stoked the rally with an RBI single in the eighth and a two-RBI double in the ninth to lead Upstate.

Down 6-5 entering the ninth, Upstate (11-27 overall) immediately rallied, as junior Joe Barnes (Lake Orion, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) singled up the middle to lead off and senior Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Starr's Mill) followed with a double down the right field line. After a fielding error loaded the bases, another error on a grounder brought in Barnes and freshman Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill), who had pinch-run for Tanner, to give Upstate a 7-6 lead. After a pair of strikeouts and a walk reloaded the bases, sophomore Jeff Medley (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) doubled off the scoreboard in right field to bring in two more runs and give Upstate the 9-6 lead.

The Bulldogs (11-18 overall) brought the tying run up to the plate in the ninth thanks to a hit and a walk, but senior Tyler Oliver (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) earned his second save by getting a groundball double play on his second pitch to end the game.

Sophomore Andrew Wyant (Newton, N.C./Fred T. Foard) (1-0) earned his first career win in relief for the Spartans, tossing 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and a run. He struck out three and walked two.

The Spartans rallied to come within a run in the eighth inning after the Bulldogs took a 6-1 lead, thanks to four hits and two errors. Barnes drew a leadoff walk and Tanner followed with a single through the left side. After a pop out, sophomore Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill./University) singled through the right side to load the bases.

Freshman Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C./Great Falls) singled up the middle to score Barnes and an error allowed Tanner to score. A sac fly brought in Cook for the second out. Bumgardner then stole second, took third on an error and scored on a single by Medley, making the score, 6-5.

Asheville got on the board in the first inning, as Justin Schumer lifted a homer over the left field fence. Catlin Carter added an RBI single in the second and the Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead with three runs on three hits and a walk in third inning.

The Spartans got on the board in the sixth inning, as senior Brian Dempsey (Montverde, Fla./East Ridge) doubled down the left field line and Tanner drove him in with a single up the middle.

Upstate loaded the bases in the sixth, but Asheville snuck out of the jam as Dempsey lined to a diving shortstop to end the frame. The Bulldogs regained the five-run cushion in the seventh as Derrick Hopkins posted an RBI single to center field.

Tanner led the Spartans, going 3-for-5 with a double, a run and RBI to give him 235 career hits, moving just six shy of the school record of 241 set by former teammate John Caddell (2004-07). Medley also went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI and both Barnes and Cook scored twice for Upstate.

Ian Graham went 4-for-5 with two runs and a RBI and Schumer went 3-for-5 with two runs and a homer to lead Asheville. Hopkins also added two hits and a RBI.

Robert McIntosh (1-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing three hits, one walk and one earned run in 2/3 innings. He struck out two.

Upstate will get back on the field on Friday when Campbell comes to Harley Park for a 6 p.m. game to start a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference set.