Box Score (PDF)

Columbia, S.C. – Kyle Martin tied a career-high with four hits to go along with one RBI and run scored to lead No. 8 South Carolina to a 6-1 victory over USC Upstate Wednesday night from Carolina Stadium.

Joey Pankake added three hits and two runs scored to help South Carolina out-hit Upstate 11-6.

Curt Britt (2-0) earned the win in relief of starter Matthew Vogel after allowing no runs on three hits in 3.2 innings on the hill.

Upstate starter Eric Birklund took the loss despite giving up just two runs on four hits in 4.2 innings of mound duty.

USC Upstate led early on after capitalizing on two South Carolina errors in the first inning to pick up a run on a sacrifice fly from catcher Luke Weber. Tyler Lesch drew a walk to leadoff the game and moved to second after AJ Mackey reached on a fielding error on the Gamecock infield. Both runners advanced one base in the following at-bat when Logan Koch committed a throwing error attempting to pick Lesch off second. Two batters later, Weber lifted a ball into centerfield to drive in Lesch with his 136th career RBI to move into sole possession of third place all-time at Upstate.

South Carolina scored single runs on an RBI single, a bases loaded walk and two more on a fielding error on the Upstate infield to open up a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning. Gene Cone produced the first Gamecock run of the night with a single to center to score Marcus Mooney from second. After two straight singles loaded the bases, Grayson Greiner walked to force in Cone from third before two more runs scored in the next at-bat on a dropped fly ball.

Martin delivered an RBI double in the seventh inning and South Carolina added another unearned run on a fielding error to open up a 6-1 lead.

Upstate returns to the diamond May 2 at 7:05 p.m. when the Spartans travel to Johnson City, Tenn., to begin a three-game series at ETSU.

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