Brittain's Walk-off Home Run Lifts Spartans in Extra Innings

Wednesday, April 13

Harley Park

6 pm

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

16-17

Gardner-Webb

23-13

Gardner-Webb

USC Upstate

4/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Cody Brittain's three-run home run with one out in the 10^th inning gave the USC Upstate Spartans a 7-4 victory over Gardner-Webb in non-conference action on Wednesday at Harley Park.

Upstate improves to 16-17 while Gardner-Webb drops to 23-13.

Trailing 4-1 in the ninth, Upstate scored two runs on a Devon Ortiz triple to tie the game. Brittain began the inning with a double and advanced to third on a Charlie Carpenter single. After a Pat Gaudard single brought home Brittain, Ortiz hit a triple to left field which plated Carpenter and Gaudard. The game went into extra innings after a groundout and a flyout with Ortiz thrown out at home trying to score.

Gardner-Webb led off the 10^th inning with a Collin Thacker double, with a groundout moving Thacker to third base. Upstate got out of the inning with a popout and flyout.

Pat Raiff led off the 10^th inning with a double and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. James Fowlkes was intentionally walked to get to Brittain, who ended the game with his third home run of the season to left-center field.

The Runnin' Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on singles by Justin Kunz and Tyler Best. Gardner-Webb loaded the bases in the third inning, scoring a run on a double play.

Upstate got on the board in the seventh inning after Brittain opened the inning with a single and advanced to second base on an error. Brittain advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on a Gaudard single.

Brittain went 3-for-5, finishing a triple short of the cycle with three runs scored and three RBI. Gaudard went 2-for-2 with two singles and two RBI. Ortiz went 1-for-1 with a triple and two RBI.

Best went 2-for-5 with two singles. Kunz went 1-for-4 with a single and two RBI.

Kevin Hickey (2-0) earned the win, allowing one hit with two strikeouts in two full innings. Wil Sellers (1-2) took the loss as he allowed six runs on five hits with two walks in 1.1. innings.

Upstate hosts Kennesaw State in an Atlantic Sun series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.

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