Box Score (PDF)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Cody Kuzniczci's three-run double in the top of the ninth inning broke a 3-3 tie and lifted Northern Kentucky to a 7-3 victory over USC Upstate Friday in game one of a three-game series from Harley Park.

Centerfielder Caleb Lonkard led off the ninth with a single to center, stole second base and took third when Dominic Mercurio followed with a single to right field. Upstate relief pitcher Eric Birklund intentionally walked David Head two batters later to load the bases after Mercurio stole second and Anthony Vagnier grounded out. Kuzniczci then upped his team-leading RBI total to 25 when he cleared the bases with a line drive to deep centerfield.

Cody Cooper picked up the win in relief after holding Upstate scoreless over the final 1.2 innings. Starter Evan Korson pitched the first seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits.

Birklund worked 3.1 innings of relief and gave up four runs and took the loss. Jordan Miller started his second career game and allowed one run in 4.2 innings.

Northern Kentucky leadoff hitter Quint Heady put the Norse ahead 1-0 with an RBI single in the fifth inning, and RBIs from Kyle Colletta and Lonkard in the sixth inning increased the lead to 3-0.

Upstate tallied its first run of the game in the seventh inning when the Spartans capitalized on a fielding miscue. Stephen Dowling drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored when Sam Kysor's grounder to short was misplayed by Mercurio.

Zach Krider pulled Upstate within a run in the eighth inning when his single to centerfield drove in Daniel Fickas from third. Charlie Carpenter kept the inning alive with a single to right before Jake Beaver drew a walk to load the bases. An RBI groundout by James Fowlkes one batter later pulled the Spartans even.

Fickas tied a career-high with four hits and stole a career-best three bases to lead Upstate on offense.  

Upstate and Northern Kentucky continue a three-game series Saturday at 5 p.m.

Follow Upstate baseball all season long on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.