University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Columbia
Spartans Drop Doubleheader to Columbia
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Spartanburg, S.C. – Kevin Roy scattered four hits and allowed one run to lead Columbia to a 4-1 victory over USC Upstate Friday in game one of a doubleheader from Harley Park.
Roy struck out four and walked two in 5.2 innings of work en route to his first win of the season. Matt Robinson retired the final two hitters in the ninth inning to earn his first save.
Upstate starting pitcher Brian Boocock (3-3) struck out seven and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and suffered the loss. Jordan Miller pitched three innings in relief and allowed only two hits.
After neither starting pitcher allowed a run through the first four innings, Columbia broke through with three runs in the top of the fifth, using RBI singles from left fielder Shane Adams and right fielder Gus Craig. The Lions also capitalized on a fielding error to plate an unearned run.
Upstate answered in the bottom half with back-to-back doubles from Charlie Carpenter and Erik Samples to cut the deficit to two runs. But Bryce Barr and Robinson held Upstate to just two hits over the final three innings to preserve the win.
Columbia tacked on a run in the ninth on an RBI single from centerfielder Jordan Serena.
Upstate shortstop Daniel Fickas had a game-high three hits to lead the offensive attack.
GAME TWO
Spartanburg, S.C. – Gus Craig went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored to lead Columbia to a 7-5 win over USC Upstate Friday in game two of a doubleheader from Harley Park.
Will Savage and Nick Maguire added two hits apiece as the Lions outhit Upstate 11-10.
Columbia struck first with two runs in the third inning on an RBI groundout from Serena and an RBI single by Craig.
Upstate responded in the home half with two runs to tie the game. James Fowlkes reached on an error to lead off the inning and moved to second when Cody Brittain followed with a single through the left side. After both runners advanced one base on a balk, Carpenter collected his team-leading 20th RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly to right field. Jake Beaver added a sacrifice fly two batters later to score Brittain from third.
The Lions used an RBI single from designated hitter John Kinne to pull ahead 3-2 in the fifth inning, but Upstate scored a run on a groundout from Brittain in the sixth to once again pull even.
Columbia loaded the bases in the eighth and had back-to-back batters hit by a pitch to force in two runs. Maguire picked an RBI later in the inning with a sacrifice fly to put the Lions ahead 6-3. Adams added a sac fly in the ninth to extend the lead to 7-3.
Carpenter led off the Upstate ninth with a triple to centerfield and scored in the following at-bat on a sacrifice fly from Erik Samples. Beaver then drew a walk before Sam Kysor singled through the right side to put runners on first and second with one out. After Jaden Savage walked to load the bases, Miller drove in a run with a groundout to the left side that nearly snuck past third baseman David Vandercook and into right field. But with the tying runs both in scoring position, Robinson was able to retire Fickas for the final out and pick up his second save of the day.
Zach Bahm (1-0) earned the win after pitching a scoreless inning in relief of starter Adam Cline. Spartan reliever Eric Birklund (0-1) took the loss after giving up one run on two hits in two innings on the hill.
Upstate and Columbia continue a four-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. from Harley Park.
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