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Asheville, N.C. – Jake Beaver had a career-high four hits and two RBIs to lead USC Upstate to a 5-3 victory over UNC Asheville Wednesday night from Greenwood Field.
Zach Krider added two hits, scored one run and pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Upstate starting pitcher Eric Birklund. Charlie Carpenter drove in two runs for the Spartans and now leads the team with 42 RBIs.
Sophomore Zach Mitchell (2-2) pitched one inning in relief and allowed one hit and earned the win. Jordan Miller pitched a perfect ninth and collected his first save of the season as the Spartan bullpen gave up a combined two hits in six innings of work.
UNC Asheville reliever Ryan Tapp (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in one inning on the mound.
Consecutive walks to Tommy Houmard and Hunter Bryant to open the fourth inning led to a pair of runs for UNC Asheville and a 2-0 lead. Catcher Pete Guy drove in the first run with a single up the middle and a double play groundout by Kyle Towles with the bases loaded produced the second run.
Upstate used RBIs from Carpenter and Beaver in the sixth inning to pull even. Erik Samples opened the inning with a bunt single and came around to score when Carpenter registered his team leading 41st RBI of the season with a double to centerfield. Beaver drove in Carpenter two batters later with a single into centerfield.
UNC Asheville regained the lead in the bottom half when Justin Woods walked with the bases loaded to force in Bryant with the go-ahead run.
Upstate answered with three runs in the seventh inning take its first lead of the game. Daniel Fickas reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second when Samples followed with a single to centerfield. Krider loaded the bases with a single to center before Carpenter walked to force in a run and tie the game. James Fowlkes put Upstate ahead with an RBI groundout and Beaver singled in the next at-bat to give the Spartans a 5-3 advantage.
Upstate returns to the diamond Friday at 6 p.m. when the Spartans welcome North Florida to Harley Park to begin a three-game series.
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