Box Score (PDF)

Kennesaw, Ga. – USC Upstate scored four runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to erase a five-run deficit en route to a 6-5 victory Saturday in game two of a three-game series from Stillwell Stadium.

Kennesaw State starting pitcher Travis Bergen stifled the Upstate hitters through seven innings, striking out a career-high 12, including seven in a row at one point, and limiting the Spartans to only three hits.  

It wasn't until Bergen gave way to Brock Turner in the eighth that Upstate put together a rally with four runs. Stephen Dowling opened the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to third when Daniel Fickas followed with a single to centerfield. Dowling trotted home with the first run after a throwing error by Brennan Morgan in an attempt to catch Fickas stealing second.

Erik Samples singled to put runners on the corners with a swinging bunt that chased Turner. Gabe Friese came on to pitch and appeared to have retired James Fowlkes on a line drive to right, but a fielding error by Alex Liquori allowed Fowlkes to reach and Fickas to score. Charlie Carpenter drove in the third run of the inning with a single through the right side, and Jaden Savage tallied his first RBI of the season three batters later when he drew a bases loaded walk to pull Upstate within one.

Fickas drew a walk to lead off the ninth and moved to third on a double off the centerfield wall from Fowlkes. Carpenter followed by smacking the first pitch he saw into right field to pull Upstate even. After Cody Brittain walked on four pitches to load the bases, Savage battled his way into a full count and took ball four after fouling off two pitches to force in the game-winning run.

Spartan reliever Richie Lacell put two runners on in the ninth, but retired Chris McGowan on a line drive to second base to preserve the win and earn his first victory of the season. Lacell pitched the final three innings and surrendered only two hits.

Upstate starting pitcher Blake Whitney turned in another solid outing and finished with two runs allowed on five hits in five innings of work. 

Kennesaw State started the scoring in the third inning when shortstop Kal Simmons picked up his team-leading 21st RBI of the season with a single through the right side to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.

The Owls pushed across another run in the fourth when Taylor Allum collected his seventh RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly to right field. Morgan led off the inning with a double to right and took third after McGowan reached on a fielding error charged to the Upstate infield.

Back-to-back singles by McGowan and Allum to lead off the sixth inning led to three more Kennesaw State runs and a 5-0 advantage. Grant Williams followed with a walk to load the bases and Liquori drew a walk thereafter to force in McGowan from third. Leadoff hitter Corey Greeson drove in a pair of runs two batters later on a fielder's choice ground ball to the right side.

Upstate and Kennesaw State put the finishing touches on a three-game series with the rubber game Sunday at 1 p.m.

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