Box Score (.pdf)

Asheville, N.C. - The USC Upstate baseball team scored eight runs in three innings as the Spartans defeated UNC Asheville 9-3 in a non-conference game at Greenwood Field on Tuesday evening. 

Upstate improves to 12-12 while UNC Asheville falls to 5-19. 

After the Spartans stranded a pair of runners in the top of the first, UNC Asheville scored two runs for a 2-0 lead. Pete Guy led off with a walk and scored on a Joe Tietjen single. Dan Wilson's sacrifice fly scored Kyle Carruthers for the second Bulldog run. 

Upstate got on the board in the third inning as Devon Ortiz led off with a walk and scored on a James Fowlkes double. 

Ortiz got the Spartans started in the fifth inning with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a stolen base. Fowlkes brought Ortiz home with a triple before scoring the go-ahead run on a UNC Asheville error. Upstate added a run in the sixth on a two out single by J.J. Shimko that scored Hunter Gilbert. 

The Spartans broke the game open with five runs in the seventh inning. Jordan Ford reached on a one out base hit followed by a Gilbert double. Ford scored on a Jake Beaver double followed by a walk to load the bases. Ortiz cleared the bases with a triple down the left field line before scoring the final run of the inning on a Shimko infield single. 

UNC Asheville scored a run with two outs in the ninth inning on double by Alex Baratta. 

Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a single, triple, three runs scored and three RBI. Fowlkes went 3-for-5, finishing a triple short of the cycle while scoring one run and driving in two. Shimko finished 3-for-4 with three singles and two RBI. Gilbert went 2-for-3 with two singles and two runs scored.

Scott Kobos went 2-for-4 to lead the Bulldog offense. Tietjen, Wilson and Barrata each finished with a hit and an RBI. 

Zach Mitchell (4-2) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts in five innings of relief. Zach Greene (0-2) took the loss as he allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning.

Upstate travels to Gardner-Webb tomorrow for a 6 p.m. matchup. 

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