Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Charlie Carpenter finished a triple short of the cycle and Bryan Hathaway threw 4.2 scoreless innings in relief as USC Upstate defeated Furman 8-2 in non-conference action at Harley Park on Tuesday. The Spartans completed the season sweep of the Paladins thanks to an 11-3 win on March 1.

Upstate improves to 17-20 while Furman falls to 15-21.

Carpenter led off the second inning with a double to right center field before advancing to third on a groundout. The inning ended on a strikeout and flyout.

Devon Ortiz led off the third inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Daniel Fickas singled to right field, scoring Ortiz for a 1-0 Upstate lead.

The Spartans took control of the game with a five-run fourth inning. Carpenter opened the frame with a home run down the right field line, his fourth of the season. The Spartans loaded the bases after a pair of hit batters and a Jaden Savage base hit. With the bases loaded and one out, J.J. Shimko hit a chopper that glanced off of the Furman pitcher's glove and deflected behind the mound. Jake Beaver, Jaden Savage and Ortiz would score on the play with Shimko reaching third base as a result of a Furman error. Fickas brought home Shimko on his second hit of the night to give the Spartans a 6-0 advantage.

Furman got on the board in the fifth inning with a pair of runs. The Paladins loaded the bases with one out thanks to a pair of walks and a one out single. Jake Crawford's base hit brought home a pair of runs and gave Furman runners at the corners with one out. Hathaway got out of the inning with one pitch as Sky Overton grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Spartans added a run in the sixth inning on a Fickas sacrifice fly that plated Ortiz. In the Upstate seventh, a pair of walks followed by a hit batter loaded the bases without any outs. Zach Krider brought home a run on a sacrifice fly but the inning ended on a strikeout and a batter interference call.

Carpenter went 3-for-3 with a single, double, home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Fickas went 2-for-4 with two singles and three RBI. Shimko went 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Crawford led the Furman offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Overton, Bret Huebner, Griffin Davis and Matt Towarnicky each had a hit.

Hathaway improved to 1-0 after allowing three hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Ted Andrews (0-2) took the loss after he surrendered six runs (five earned) on eight hits with one strikeout in 3.1 innings.

Upstate hosts Charleston Southern tomorrow at 6 p.m.

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