April 17, 2010

Final Stats

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - In a pair of games that were about as different as could be, one thing remained the same. Senior Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Starr's Mill) still hit, so much so that his three-run homer in the fifth inning of the second game helped him tie the school's career hits record, helping lead the Spartans to a 4-3 win in the nightcap of its doubleheader with Campbell in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday at Harley Park after falling in the first game, 13-6.

Tanner finished the doubleheader with four hits, his last the three-run blast, as he tied John Caddell's mark of 241 career base knocks, set from 2004-07. Tanner finished the doubleheader 4-for-8 with three RBI and he finished the series with Campbell with six hits and five RBI.

The Spartans (13-28 overall, 3-14 A-Sun) took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning of the second game, as freshman Brody Greer (Honea Path, S.C./Belton-Honea Path) lined a single to left with one out and junior Joe Barnes (Lake Orion, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) dumped a single into right to set up Tanner's record-tying hit.

Upstate tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as freshman Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill) led off with an opposite-field pinch-hit double before moving to third on a groundout and scoring on an opposite field double from senior Brian Dempsey (Montverde, Fla./East Ridge), taking a 4-2 lead.

The Camels (18-19 overall, 5-13 A-Sun) got a run closer in the eighth as Josh Holskey led off with a double down the line before scoring on a two-out RBI single by pinch-hitter Bryce Grady.

Grady moved to third on a single by Cameron Nelson and nearly scored on a failed double steal attempt, but shortstop Greer threw back to the plate to Tanner, as Grady slid wide of the bag. Grady walked back to the edge of the warning track and Tanner stood at the plate, with no call being made. Tanner walked toward Grady to apply the tag and Grady juked around him, but pitcher Tyler Oliver (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) covered the plate and Tanner got the ball to him to apply the tag for the third out of the inning.

Oliver picked up his fourth save and third of the week with a quieter ninth inning, allowing just one single to turn away the Camels with three fly balls.

The Camels cut the lead to 3-2 with a single run in the top of the sixth inning as Josh Holskey came around to score after doubling.

Campbell got on the board in the second inning, using three hits to score a run after Zach Johnson led off with a double.

Junior Philip Brannon (Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) (2-6) picked up his second win at Upstate, throwing seven innings and allowing 11 hits, but just two runs. He struck out three in the quality start before yielding to Oliver, who allowed four hits and a run in two innings.

Jeff Rydman (2-2) took the loss for Campbell, as he tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs. He walked one and struck out a career-high tying eight.

Barnes finished 3-for-4 with a run and Tanner went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI in the second game. Dempsey also went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. The Camels were led by Ellis Lowe, who went 4-for-5 and Holskey, who was 3-for-4 with two runs and two doubles. Nelson also had two hits.

Campbell exploded with 11 unanswered runs, thanks to 11 extra-base hits, in the last five innings of the first game in order to take a 13-6 decision from Upstate.

Upstate took the lead with a five-run third inning, sending 10 batters to the plate in the inning to get a 6-2 lead. Junior Joe Barnes (Lake Orion, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) led off the frame with a double to right field and he moved to third on a fly out before scoring on a double off the left field wall by freshman Trey Richardson (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins). After taking third on a wild pitch, Richardson scored on a single up the middle by sophomore Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill./University). Sophomore Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla./Trinity Prep) followed with a single up singled up the middle, allowing Cook to reach third and Liput took second on the throw in from the outfield, setting up a triple to left center from freshman Brody Greer (Honea Path, S.C./Belton-Honea Path), that scored two runs. After a groundout, Greer scored on an error.

The Camels took over from there, scoring 11 straight runs, posting six in the fifth inning as 11 batters went to the plate and adding four more runs on four doubles in the sixth inning to take a 12-6 lead. The team tacked on another run in the eighth inning.

The Camels got out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Alex Aycoth was hit by a pitch with two outs and Zach Johnson followed with a homer over the left field fence.

The Spartans cut the lead to a single run in the second inning as Cook and Liput led off the frame with singles before a sac fly by Greer helped Cook score.

Six Upstate playes finished with at least two hits, led by Richardson's 3-for-5 game. Cook went 2-for-5 with two runs, Greer added two hits, a triple and three RBI and Barnes, Tanner and Liput each added two hits.

Ellis Lowe went 5-for-6 with two runs and two RBI to lead the Camels, as he posted three doubles. Zach Johnson went 4-for-5 with two runs, three doubles, a homer and four RBI and Kevin Nelson also posted three hits and two runs.

Parker Fleming (1-0) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out one before yielding to Daniel Gardo, who earned the unusual five-inning save by throwing shutout, three-hit ball. Freshman Ryan Newell (Marietta, Ga./Marietta) (1-3) took the loss for Upstate, allowing two hits and two runs.

Upstate gets back on the field on Tuesday when it travels to Carolina Stadium for a 7 p.m. game with No. 13 South Carolina.