JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – USC Upstate scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, but went six consecutive innings without scoring as Jacksonville, fueled by Adam Walker's five RBI performance, claimed a 13-6 victory on Friday night at Sessions Stadium in the first of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference set.
In the first inning, Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C) drew a leadoff walk and Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C.) followed with a single through the right side on a successful hit and run to give USC Upstate (5-9, 0-2 A-Sun) runners at first and third with no outs.
Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill.) grounded out to second, allowing Green to score the first run of the game. With two outs and Bumgardner standing on third, Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla.) singled down the left field line allowing Bumgardner to score. Liput was tagged out at second to end the inning as he tried to stretch his single into a double.
The two runs scored by the Spartans in the first inning were the most that Jacksonville starter Steve Eagerton has allowed in an outing this season. Prior to Friday night, Eagerton had allowed just two runs (both earned) this season (1, at UNC Wilmington, Feb. 20; 1, vs. Wagner, Mar. 5).
Upstate starter Scott DeCecco (Cape May Courthouse, N.J.) cruised through the first two innings allowing just one hit. The sophomore ran into a little bit of trouble in the third inning. With two outs and Alex Swenson standing on first, Taylor Ratliff singled through the left side and Jonathon Murphy was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the homestanding Dolphins (10-4, 1-0). Daniel Gulbransen delivered an RBI single to left allowing Swenson and Ratliff to score to tie the game at 2-2. The Spartans appeared to end the inning but on a close play at first, Adam Walker dodged DeCecco's tag to record the single and allow Murphy to score, putting Jacksonville ahead 3-2 after three innings.
Jacksonville increased its lead to four when Adam Walker hit a three-run homer to straight away center field in the home half of the fifth.
After giving up three runs in the fifth, DeCecco's day was finished as the southpaw pitched five complete innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on nine hits with a pair of walks. DeCecco tied a career-high with eight strikeouts. He also had eight strikeouts last season at Mercer (Apr. 23, 2010).
After the Spartans were retired in order in the top of the sixth, Jacksonville went right back on the offensive attack as it was able to increase the lead to eight at 11-3. The Dolphin five-run sixth inning was highlighted by Jimmy Howick's two-RBI single to left field. Ryan Newell (Marietta, Ga.) pitched just one-third of an inning, allowing four earned runs as he walked four of the five batters he faced. Jake Waller (Phoenixville, Pa.) finished the sixth inning on the mound for Upstate.
Upstate posted three runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut the lead to six runs at 11-5. Anthony Vacca (Fonthill, Ontario) led off the inning with a single, his first collegiate hit. The Spartans recorded back-to-back singles by Green and Bumgardner to load the bases with no outs. Cook singled up the middle and notched two RBI as Vacca and Green were able to score. Bumgardner scored the final run of the inning on Liput's double down the left field line.
Jacksonville pushed the lead to seven (13-5) as it scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Chris Moye delivered a two-out, two RBI single to right field, allowing Adam Walker and Jimmy Howick to score.
Grason Wiggins (Statesboro, Ga.) led off the ninth inning with a double and advanced to third on Vacca's ground out. He came in to score on Bumgardner's single to short, setting the final tally at 13-6 in favor of the Dolphins.
Upstate was led at the plate by Bumgardner, who finished 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI, while Liput collected two hits and two RBI.
Jacksonville starter Steve Eagerton pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits and improved his record to 3-0. Upstate starter Scott DeCecco fell to 1-1 on the season.
Upstate and Jacksonville will wrap-up the series as the two teams play a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m.
