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Contact: David Beall, dbeall@uscupstate.edu

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate baseball team allowed runs in six different innings Sunday afternoon and fell 6-2 to Stetson University in the Atlantic Sun Conference series finale at Harley Park.

The Spartans (21-15, 7-8 A-Sun) drop back-to-back games for the first time in three weeks, while the Hatters (17-20, 6-6 A-Sun) win consecutive conference series for the first time this season.

Upstate converted its offense to perfection in the opening frame when Jordan Stampler led off with a single, Gaither Bumgardner delivered a sacrifice bunt and Tyler Lesch lined a double to the gap in left center to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead.

After Stetson added singles runs in the second and third innings, Upstate knotted the score in its half of the third with another RBI base knock from Lesch, this time a single through the right side to send Stampler home again and make it 2-2.

The Hatters would slowly increase their lead over the next five innings, scoring four runs in four different frames to jump out on top 6-2.

Stetson relief pitcher Josh Thorne (3-0) was nearly perfect over the final 5.0 innings for the Hatters, allowing just three hits and tossing up zeros to keep Upstate off the board.

Gaither Bumgardner (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year for the Spartans, lasting 6.0 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out three. Jordan Rusk tossed 2.2 innings in relief, while Josh Howard came on in the ninth and retired the only batter he faced.

Lesch was perfect at the plate on the day, going 4-for-4 with both RBI for Upstate, while Bumgardner was the only other Spartan to notch multiple hits, recording two hits in three trips to the dish.

The Spartans return to action with five road games next week, traveling to UNC Asheville and Wofford in mid-week action, before taking on No. 24 FGCU in Fort Myers, Fla., over the weekend.

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