Box Score (PDF)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Michael Murray pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out 10 in leading Florida Gulf Coast to an 8-0 victory over USC Upstate Friday night from Harley Park.

Murray limited Upstate to two hits and allowed only one runner past second base on his way to improving to 4-0 this season. Brad Labozzetta pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win.

Upstate starter Zac Manuppelli (3-2) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (one earned) on seven hits in two innings on the hill. Spartan freshman Zach Mitchell pitched the final three innings and tied a career-high with four strikeouts.

Florida Gulf Coast (14-8, 1-0) pushed across a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from right fielder Michael Suchy. Second baseman Jake Noll led off the game with a double to right-center field, moved to third on a passed ball and came around to score on a single through the left side. Suchy finished the game 2-for-2 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

The Eagles capitalized on a fielding error on the Upstate infield in the second inning that led to five unearned runs and a 6-0 lead. Colton Bottomley opened the inning with a single through the right side and moved to second on a base hit on the infield from Andrew Valencia. After the aforementioned error loaded the bases with one out, Upstate erased Bottomley off the base paths with a throw home on a fielder's choice off the bat of Gage Morey. Suchy followed with a two-run single to right and Nick Rivera delivered a three-run home run to left to account for the runs.

Florida Gulf Coast used a sacrifice fly from Suchy in the sixth inning and an RBI single from Tyler Selesky in the eight to score its final two runs.

Upstate and Florida Gulf Coast wrap up a three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Game two will follow approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

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