Box Score (PDF)

Fort Myers, Fla. – USC Upstate head coach Matt Fincher secured his 400th career victory on Friday in a 6-3 win over Florida Gulf Coast in game two of a three-game series from Swanson Stadium.

Upstate left fielder J.J. Shimko led the offensive attack with three hits and two runs scored. Daniel Fickas, Jake Beaver and Stephen Dowling tallied two hits to help the Spartans outhit Florida Gulf Coast 12-7.

USC Upstate used an RBI double from first baseman Charlie Carpenter in the first inning to build a 1-0 lead. Fickas opened the game with a bloop single into centerfield and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Erik Samples before Carpenter tallied his team-leading 28th RBI with a shot into the right-centerfield gap.

Nick Rivera pulled Florida Gulf Coast even with Upstate when he delivered an RBI double into the left-centerfield gap in the bottom of the first.

Upstate received an RBI single from Shimko and a two-run double by Samples in the second inning to regain the lead and go ahead 4-1. Dowling reached on a one-out double to left and scored when Shimko singled up the middle. After a walk to Jordan Miller and a single by Fickas loaded the bases, Samples connected for his team-leading 12th double of the season to plate Shimko and Miller.

Beaver put Upstate ahead 5-1 when he crushed an RBI double to right to drive in James Fowlkes from first.

RBI singles from Colton Bottomley and Zach Spivey in the fifth inning allowed Florida Gulf Coast to cut the deficit to two runs.

Upstate capitalized on two errors by shortstop Matt Reardon in the top of the ninth to add an insurance run and extend its lead to 6-3. Fickas picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Shimko from third.

Spartan reliever Richie Lacell pitched a scoreless ninth and struck out two to secure the win and earn his second save of the season. Overall, Lacell pitched four innings and allowed one hit and struck out five. Starting pitcher Blake Whitney (2-1) allowed three runs on six hits in five inning of work and earned the win.

Florida Gulf Coast starting pitcher Michael Murray took the loss after surrendering five runs on 10 hits in five innings of mound duty.

Upstate goes for the series victory Saturday at 12 p.m. in the rubber game.

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