SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A heavy offensive performance from the Spartans helped USC Upstate baseball to a 13-7 win over Jackson State University on Tuesday evening in game one of a two-game series at Cleveland S. Harley Park. The squad improved to 12-5 this season with the win.

After three quick scoreless innings, Jackson State got on the board first with a run in the top of the fourth. Upstate's offense picked up as the Spartans got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the same inning and added four more on five hits in the bottom of the fifth. The Spartans added some cushion to their lead in the bottom of the eighth as they went up 13-5 to hold out for the win though Jackson State plated a pair of runs in the top of the ninth.

Upstate scattered 14 hits in the game that included a pair of doubles and a pair of triples. Julian Rip was 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and four runs scored. Ben Olson also had three hits and drove in four runs while Cameron MacIntosh had two hits, four RBI, and a run scored. Devin Buckner rounded out the Spartans with a multi-hit performance as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Kyle Schmitt got the nod on the mound and threw three innings of no-run, two-hit baseball. He finished his day of work with three strikeouts and allowed just one walk before Reilly Kirkpatrick stepped on in relief to throw 2.2 innings with three strikeouts. Will Lancaster entered in the top of the sixth to record the win as he went 2.1 innings allowing just two hits, one run, one walk, and struck out two Jackson State batters. Preston Farmer appeared in the top of the ninth and Sam Stohr made his season debut on the mound to get the last out of the game.

UPSTATE SCORING BREAKDOWN
B4: Back-to-back singles up the middle from Buckner and Rip set MacIntosh up for a two-out, two-run triple off the wall in right center to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead. 

B5: With two outs, Jack Hennessy on third, and Jason Matthews on second, Buckner dropped a shot in shallow right field for a two-run single. Rip then doubled to the same spot in right field to drive in Buckner, and Jack Gallagher smashed another triple to the right center wall to score Rip and push Upstate's lead to 6-1.

B7: Rip singled through the 5-6 gap before Gallagher reached on a fielder's choice, and MacIntosh drove in his third run of the night with an RBI single to right to plate Rip and advance Gallagher to third. MacIntosh then stole second, and Olson cleared the bases with a double down the left field line for a 9-4 Spartan lead.

B7: Upstate scored four runs off of just one hit in the bottom of the seventh as the Spartans took advantage of three walks and three hit-by-pitches in the inning. Matthews was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a bad pickoff attempt by the Tigers before Taylor was hit back-to-back. The new Jackson State pitcher then walked Buckner and Rip to loaded the bases and walk in a run. MacIntosh drew a walk to send another run home, and then Olson came through with a two-run single to left field to extend Upstate's lead to 13-5.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans return to the diamond at Harley Park for game two against Jackson State on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.

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