SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartans were once again dominant on the mound Saturday afternoon as they clinched the series against Long Island University with a 5-2 win at Cleveland S. Harley Park. Starting pitcher Ben Ferrer and reliever Kevin Davis combined for 17 strikeouts to tie a program record of Ks in a single game.

Julian Rip was 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs and an incredible catch in right field to end the top of the seventh inning. Devin Buckner also had a pair of hits on the day alongside two RBIs while Jack Hennessy recorded a pair of RBIs as well.

Ferrer struck out a career-high 13 batters in 7.1 innings of work on the day. He gave up just four hits, one run, and no walks. Davis picked up a save in his Upstate debut after entering in relief in the bottom of the eighth inning and giving up one hit with four strikeouts.

SCORING BREAKDOWN
B4: Mason Stewart layed down a successful bunt to advance Rip to third and reach base. Stewart then attempted to take second, but stalled a pickoff just long enough to let Rip cross the plate to get Upstate on the board for a 1-0 lead.

T5: LIU evened things up in the fifth as Seth Surrett doubled to right before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and crossing the plate on a groundout to short stop.

B6: Jeff Taylor was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning before Cameron MacIntosh singled to right to get runners on first and third and force a quick pitching change for the Sharks. Buckner broke in the new pitcher with a bases-clearing double to center for a 3-1 Spartan lead.

B8: Leading off in the bottom of the eighth, Rip doubled to shallow center field and was pushed to second on sacrifice bunt from Braden Durham. Stewart was then walked and Jack Gallagher was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hennessy took advantage of that with a two-run single to left to extend Upstate's lead to 5-1.

T9: LIU got a run back in the top of the ninth on a passed ball to make the final score 5-2.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will look to sweep LIU when they face the Sharks in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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