Box Score (PDF)

Charlotte, N.C. – T.J. Nichting went 4-for-5 and was a home run shy of the cycle in leading Charlotte to a 6-2 victory over USC Upstate Tuesday evening from Hayes Stadium.

Mikal Hill, Brett Lang, Jordan Hudson and Brad Elwood each tallied two hits apiece to help the 49ers hold a 14-8 edge in hits.

Upstate shortstop Daniel Fickas finished 3-for-4, while Erik Samples and AJ Mackey finished with two hits each.

Charlotte (7-18-1) used an RBI groundout from third baseman Derek Gallello in the first inning to push across the game's first run. Hill led off the frame with a single to left and advanced to third when Nichting followed with a single through the right side. Two batters later, Gallello picked up his fourth RBI of the season with a grounder to the right side.

The 49ers struck for three runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-0. Lang opened the inning with a single through the left side and moved to second after a single from Hudson. After a sacrifice bunt from Elwood moved both runners up one base, Hill smacked a double off the right field wall to plate Lang and Hudson. Hill would come around to score later in the inning on a triple by Nichting.

Upstate (10-20) cut the lead in half with a pair of runs in the fifth inning, using RBIs from Tyler Lesch and Samples to pull within 4-2. Mackey ripped a double to left to begin the inning and took third on a bunt single from Fickas. Jordan Miller walked to load the bases before Lesch blooped a single into left for his 14th RBI of the season. Samples followed with a walk to drive in Fickas from third, but Micah Wells retired the next three Spartans to prevent Upstate from capitalizing any further.

Des Roberts delivered a sacrifice fly to score Gallello, who tripled to open the half inning, to put the 49ers ahead 5-2. Hudson registered his second hit of the inning with a two-out single in the seventh to plate Roberts from second.

Wells picked up the win in relief after allowing just one hit to go along with three strikeouts in two innings of work.

Upstate starter Zach Mitchell surrendered five runs on nine hits in five innings of mound duty to take the loss.

Upstate returns to the diamond Wednesday night at 6 p.m. when the Spartans host Gardner-Webb from Harley Park.

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