Game One Box (PDF) | Game Two Box (PDF)
Macon, Ga. – The USC Upstate baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader Saturday against Mercer from Claude Smith Field, falling 11-5 in game one and 3-0 in game two.
Game one saw USC Upstate score the first runs of the game as the Spartans pushed a pair of runs across in the top of the first inning. Tyler Lesch led off the game with a single into right field and came around to score two batters later on a double to left from first baseman Zach Krider. After a walk to Luke Weber put runners on first and second, Stephen Dowling laced a single up the middle to score Krider with his ninth RBI of the season.
Mercer picked up four unearned runs in the fifth inning to open up a 4-2 lead. Derrick Workman reached on a fielding error to begin the inning and took second two batters later on a single from Kyle Lewis. After Lewis was erased at second base on a fielder's choice, back-to-back-to-back singles from Sasha LaGarde, Michael Massi and Chesny Young combined with another error on the Upstate defense led to the aforementioned four runs.
Upstate responded with two runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Daniel Seeba singled through the right side before a one-out single from Jordan Miller put runners on the corners. Dylan Woods followed with a single through the right side to score Seeba, and Lesch delivered a single to right in the following at-bat to drive in Woods with the game-tying run.
A two-run home run from Young in the sixth inning capped a five-run frame for the Bears on their way to a 9-4 lead. LaGarde had an RBI single and Massi delivered a two-run double earlier in the inning to begin the scoring. The Bears would go on to add two more runs in the eighth inning on a two-run single from Young.
Dimitri Kourtis earned the win in relief and improved to 2-0 after surrendering just one hit in 1.2 innings of mound duty.
Upstate starting pitcher David Roseboom (2-5) suffered the loss despite a third straight strong pitching performance, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits to go along with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.
In game two, Eric Nyquist pitched his second straight complete game to lead Mercer to a 3-0 victory and a series sweep of Upstate.
Nyquist allowed just three hits to go along with five strikeouts to earn his fifth victory of the season.
Upstate starter Zac Manuppelli put together an impressive start by limiting Mercer to just one run on six hits in seven innings of work.
Mercer got on the board first with a run in the second inning on an RBI single up the middle from catcher Austin Barrett.
Both teams went scoreless for the next six innings until Mercer added two insurance runs in the eighth inning on a two-run single from designated hitter Devin Bonin.
Spartan designated hitter Brian Thompson tied a career-high with three hits to lead Upstate at the plate.
Upstate returns to action Tuesday at 6 p.m. when the Spartans welcome Winthrop to Harley Park.
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