SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Spartans trailed 10-8 and had runners on second and third with no outs, but USC Upstate was able to score just one run allowing Butler to hold on for the 10-9 win on Sunday at Harley Park.

Each team scored once in the first inning, with Upstate's run coming without a hit in the bottom of the first.  Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill.) reached on a fielding error by second baseman Bob Akin.  Cook was able to advance to second on a passed ball and scored from second base thanks to a throwing error by third baseman Grant Fillipitch.

Upstate (4-4) trailed 3-1 heading to the bottom of the third inning but the Spartans tied the game at 4-3 when Trey Richardson (Lakeland, Fla.) doubled to right center allowing Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C.) and Cook to scamper home.

The Spartans ran into trouble in the top of the fifth inning as Butler (1-3) tacked on four runs to retake the lead at 7-4.  The Spartans appeared to keep the Bulldogs at bay but with two outs, Spartan left fielder Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C.) dropped a fly ball allowing the inning to continue.  All four of the Bulldogs runs in the top of the fifth were unearned.

Upstate was able to chip away at the lead and thanks to two runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, the Spartans tied the game at 8-8.  In the seventh, Luke Weber (Spartanburg, S.C.) connected on his first collegiate homerun.  Weber's blast also allowed Dillon Way (Orangeburg, S.C.) to cross home plate.

In the top of the ninth, Butler added two runs to take a 10-9 lead.  The first run of the ninth came on Kyle Waggoner's sacrifice fly to center field.  Marcos Calderon gave the Bulldogs the two-run cushion when he scored on Griffin Richeson's single through the right side.

The Spartans opened the ninth inning with a double to the right center field gap by Miller.  Weber was hit by a pitch and after a wild pitch, Upstate had a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs.  Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C.) hit into a double play as he was out and first and Miller was tagged out at the plate.  Weber scored on Bumgardner's single to cut the lead to one, however Cook struck out looking to end the game.

David Roseboom (Pattersonville, N.Y.) got the start on the hill, his second career-start and received his second no-decision.  The Spartan freshman pitched 4.2 innings on Sunday, giving up 10 hits and seven runs (four earned) and three strikeouts.  Butler starter Dom Silvestri pitched 6.1 innings allowing five runs (six total) on six hits with four strikeouts as he also received a no-decision.

Joel Leichty (1-0) picked up the win in relief after pitching just two-thirds of an inning allowing just one hit.  Spartan reliever Jordan Rusk (Longwood, Fla.) was the losing pitcher and now sits 0-1 on the season after he pitched three full innings, allowing two runs on one hit while striking out three.

Bumgardner was the lone Spartan to tally two hits against the Bulldogs.

Upstate will return to action on Tuesday when they play its first game away from Harley Park.  The Spartans will make the short trek down Pine Street to face the Wofford Terriers with first pitch slated for 4:00 p.m.