SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A new era officially begins for USC Upstate baseball this weekend as the Spartans open their 2020 season under head coach Mike McGuire, who is launching his first year at the helm of the program. McGuire came to Upstate from Morehead State where he averaged 37 wins a year over seven seasons. He holds an all-time coaching record of 370-276.

The Spartans host Long Island University in a three-game series at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park beginning Friday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. The teams will play again on Saturday at 2 p.m. before the series finale on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

Upstate returns a solid core of arms this season led by Jordan Marks, Ben Ferrer, Sean Hupp, and Will Wheeler. Marks will get the opening night nod on the hill while Ferrer will start in game two and Hupp will get the start in game three. Hupp was selected as a New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star over the summer and in 14 appearances for the Valley Blue Sox, gave up zero runs and earned two saves. Wheeler, a 2019 second-team all-conference pick, will once again be the go-to guy out of the bullpen to start the season.

The outfield is pretty set with all of last year's starters returning. Jeff Taylor, 2019 first-team all-conference member, will start in left with Jack Hennessy in center and Julian Rip in right. Rip represented the Netherlands U23 National Team back in the fall at the U23 European Championships. Freshman Conner Todaro will also most likely see some time in the outfield as well.

Jason Matthews will be a key component to the Spartan infield at short stop. Jack Gallagher and Sam Stohr, both JUCO transfers, will see time at first while Cameron MacIntosh, Garrett Stevens, and Stone Stephenson are all options at second and third base. Mason Stewart is also in the mix at third.

JUCO transfer Devin Buckner, freshman Ben Olson, and sophomore Davis Wilber will all see time behind the plate this season.

Scouting the Opponent
This year's LIU roster contains a mixture of players from LIU Brooklyn and the 2019 East Coast Conference Champions, LIU Post. The two athletic programs merged into one, the LIU Sharks, over the summer. LIU's Friday night starter Jackson Svete was a second-team all-conference pick last season and the Saturday guy, Joshua Loeschorn, was an All-American for LIU Post least season as a freshman. LIU's middle infield is set with a pair of veterans in Christopher Wasson at second and Anthony Warneke at short stop. The Sharks also field a quick outfield that includes Tim Bechtold, Cade Biddle, and Giovanni Ciaccio.

Pitching Matchups
Game One: RHP Jordan Marks vs. RHP Jackson Svete
Game Two: RHP Ben Ferrer vs. RHP Joshua Loeschorn
Game Three: RHP Sean Hupp vs. RHP Alec Huertas

Broadcast Info
Live Stats
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