April 2, 2010

Final Stats

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Junior Philip Brannon (Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) pitched six innings, allowing just three earned runs, for the USC Upstate baseball team but Jacksonville was able to score six unearned runs and post a 16-3 win over the Spartans on Friday night in the opening game of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference set.

The Dolphins (14-13 overall, 6-4 A-Sun) got on the board in the first inning by scoring four unearned runs with the big blow coming from a two-run homer from Dan Gulbransen. Three more runs followed in the second inning, as the Dolphins mixed in four hits and an error to do the damage. After that, Brannon limited the Dolphins to just one more run in his six innings of work, as three hits in the fifth inning led to Jacksonville taking an 8-0 lead.

The Spartans (9-20 overall, 1-9 A-Sun) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, as freshman Brody Greer (Honea Path, S.C./Belton-Honea Path) singled with two outs and sophomore Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla./Trinity Prep) followed with an infield hit. Junior Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern) followed with a single into left field to score Greer.

Both teams scored in the seventh inning, as Adam Britt Walker hit a homer to center field for the Dolphins and Upstate started the inning with two walks before Green singled in freshman Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill).

The Dolphins took a 10-2 lead in the top of the eighth, using a double from Alex Swenson, a groundout and a sac fly to score the run. Upstate responded with another single tally in the bottom of the inning, as sophomore Austin Moyer (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) walked to lead off and freshman Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C./Great Falls) hit his A-Sun-leading fourth triple down the right field line with two outs to score the run.

The Dolphins scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning as they used five hits and an error in the inning, with the big blow coming on a three-run double by pinch hitter Glen Johnson.

Alex Martinez, Gulbransen and Walker each had three hits for the Dolphins, with Martinez and Gulbransen scoring twice and Gulbransen and Walker each driving in three. Walker scored four times, hitting a homer and adding a double.

Upstate's six-hit attack was led by Green, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Brannon (1-5) took the hard-luck loss, pitching six innings and allowing 12 hits and eight runs, but just three were earned. He struck out five and walked none.

Matt Loosen (3-1) threw six innings for the Dolphins, allowing four hits and an earned run. He struck out 10 and walked three. Clay Kollenbaum earned a three-inning save, allowing two hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out two.

The Spartans and Dolphins wrap up the three-game set with Jacksonville with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Steve Hanvey '87 and Rick Given '88 will be on hand to toss out the ceremonial first pitch.