Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. - The USC Upstate baseball team scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning as they opened the 2016 season with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over George Mason at Harley Park.

Upstate improves to 1-0 while George Mason falls to 0-1.

Trailing 4-3 after surrendering two runs in the top of the frame, Jordan Miller tied the game at 4 with a leadoff home run. Charlie Carpenter would follow with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Following a walk, Carpenter scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

George Mason threatened in the ninth with a leadoff single followed by a sacrifice bunt and two walks to load the bases. Richie Lacell worked out of the jam with a strikeout and pop up to end the game.

The Patriots scored the first two runs of the game on a two-run home run by Brady Acker in the third inning. Upstate got on the board in the bottom half of the frame as Cody Brittain led off with a triple and scored on a J.J. Shimko groundout. Brittain gave the Spartans a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on a home run to left-center field.

Brittain went 2-for-2 with a triple, home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Carpenter finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Miller was one-for-four with a run scored and an RBI.

Colton Chupp earned the win as he allowed two hits with a walk in an inning of work. Lacell recorded a save with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Tyler Zombro took the loss as he allowed five runs on seven hits in six-plus innings of work.

Upstate returns to action tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. against Dayton.

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