Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – James Fowlkes' two-run home run broke a 13-13 tie as the USC Upstate Spartans scored eight runs in the eighth inning to defeat FGCU 21-18 in A-Sun action on Saturday at Harley Park. 

Upstate improves to 20-24 and 3-10 while FGCU drops to 20-25 and 6-8. 

The 21 runs scored by the Spartans are the most they've scored since scoring 23 runs against Niagara to open the 2013 season. 

The Spartans got on the board in the first inning thanks to a Cody Brittain two-out triple for a 1-0 lead. Upstate added three more runs in the second on a wild pitch and a Daniel Fickas two-run single. Jake Beaver brought home a run in the third inning with a one-out single followed by a fielder's choice for Upstate's sixth run. Jordan Miller plated a run with a double and scored on a J.J. Shimko triple.  In the fourth inning, Beaver brought home a run on a single followed by a two-run base hit by Devon Ortiz.  J.J. Shimko worked a bases-loaded walk to give Upstate a 12-0 lead. 

FGCU got on the board in the fifth inning on a Zach Spivey single before the Spartans answered in the home half of the inning as Jordan Ford scored on a double by Beaver. 

The Eagles chipped away at the Upstate lead with a six-run sixth inning and a four-run seventh inning. Jake Smith led off the eighth inning with a home run before the Eagles tied the game at 13 on a Stefano Belmonte sacrifice fly. 

After a groundout opened the Upstate eighth, Fickas doubled to left field before Fowlkes send a 3-2 offering over the left field fence to give the Spartans a 15-13 lead. Upstate would add runs on singles by Beaver and Ortiz, a Shimko two-run double and a wild pitch before Shimko scored the final run of the game for Upstate on Fickas' second double of the inning. 

FGCU wouldn't go quietly in the ninth. After a Spartan error and a base hit, Matt Reardon brought home two runs with a double to trim the Spartan lead to 21-15. Noll brought the Eagles within three runs thanks to a three-run home run before a groundout, strikeout and flyout ended the game. 

Beaver went 5-for-5 with four single, a double and four RBI. Ortiz and Shimko each went 3-for-5 with four RBI. Fowlkes finished 3-for-6 with a single, triple, home run and two RBI while Fickas went 3-for-7 with a single, two doubles and three RBI. Every Upstate batter recorded at least one hit as the Spartans recorded a season-best 25 hits. 

Noll went 4-for-6 with four RBI. Zachary Orchard went 3-for-3 with two singles, a double and three RBI. Tyler Selesky finished 2-for-5 with three RBI. 

Zach Krider (1-0) earned the win after he allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeout in two innings. Sterling Koerner (2-6) took the loss after he allowed eight runs (four earned) on six hits in an inning of work. 

The series concludes tomorrow at Noon.

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