Box Score
Box Score (.pdf)
Spartanburg, S.C. – Devon Ortiz's two out single in the 10th inning brought home the winning run as USC Upstate defeated Jacksonville 4-3 on a misty night at Harley Park.
Upstate improves to 21-29 and 4-14 in the Atlantic Sun while Jacksonville falls to 34-19 and 13-6.
Cody Brittain led off the second inning with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a Jake Beaver groundout to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, Hunter Gilbert, Ortiz and J.J. Shimko led off the inning with three consecutive singles to load the bases. Gilbert scored on a fielder's choice while Ortiz scored on a James Fowlkes sacrifice fly.
Jacksonville got on the board in the fourth inning on a Sam Armstrong single that scored JJ Gould. The Dolphins scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth on a singles by Nathan Koslowski and Gould.
The Spartans grounded into double plays to end the seventh and eighth innings.
Dakota Julylia's double with two outs in the ninth inning was the only hit for the Dolphins from the fifth inning thorough the end of the game. The Spartans went down in order in the ninth inning, sending the game into extra innings.
After Jacksonville was retired in order in the top of the 10th, Jake Beaver was hit by a pitch to open the home half of the frame. Pat Raiff would run for Beaver and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and third base via a groundout. Ortiz fell behind in the count, fouling off several pitches before hitting a sharp line drive to third base that allowed Raiff to score the winning run.
Ortiz went 2-for-4 with two singles, a run scored and an RBI. Brittain went 1-for-3 with a double and run scored while Gilbert went 1-for-4 with a single and run scored. Beaver, Fickas and Fowlkes each drove in a run.
Gould led the Dolphin offense as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a single, run scored and RBI. Koslowski and Armstrong each went 1-for-4 with a single and RBI.
Bryan Hathaway (3-1) earned the win as he allowed one hit with four strikeouts in three innings. Spartan starter Tyler Jackson allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Chris Gau (0-2) took the loss, allowing one run on one hit with a walk in 1.2 innings. Starter Nathan Disch allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 8.0 innings for the Dolphins.
The series continues tomorrow at 6 p.m.
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