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Contact: David Beall, dbeall@uscupstate.edu

Box Score (PDF) | Play-by-Play

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate baseball team surrendered seven hits and four runs in the opening frame Wednesday evening and never recovered, falling 9-3 to Charleston Southern at Harley Park in non-conference action.

The Spartans (20-13) fall for just the second time in the last nine games, while the Buccaneers (12-21) earn their first road victory of the year in 15 tries.

Charleston Southern got all the offense they would need in the opening frame and they did so with two outs in the inning. With two outs and a runner on first, the Buccaneer bats came to life, recording six consecutive hits to plate four runs and take an early lead. CSU had an opportunity for even more first-inning damage, but Kevin Hickey, the 10th batter in the frame, popped up with the bases loaded to end the offensive onslaught.

The Bucs played long ball in the third and fourth innings, launching two-run home runs in each frame to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

The Spartans finally came alive an inning later, scoring runs on a throwing error and sacrifice fly to plate a pair of fifth-inning runs. A Daniel Seeba RBI single in the sixth to send Brandon Patterson home would be all the offense Upstate would manage, falling 9-3 to Charleston Southern.

Chris Cox (2-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings of work, while five other Upstate pitchers made an appearance, including 3.0 scoreless frames from Paul Jeanot.

The two teams will meet again May 8 when Upstate travels to Charleston Southern to complete the two-game season series.

The Spartans return to action Friday evening, welcoming Stetson University to town for a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference Series at Harley Park. First pitch against the Hatters is set for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

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