SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartans once again found themselves down early on Saturday afternoon and fell 4-2 to Northwestern University at Cleveland S. Harley Park. The Wildcats plated three runs in the top of the second, and though Upstate (10-5) got a run back in both the fourth and seventh innings, Northwestern (6-6) picked up an insurance run in the top of the eighth to secure the win.

Austin Morgan got the nod on the mound and pitched into the sixth inning, retiring the side in the first, fourth and fifth. He finished his day with a pair of strikeouts before Kevin Davis took over in the top of the sixth with one out and runners on first and third. Davis forced Northwestern to hit into a double play on his second pitch to get out of the inning. He caught two Wildcats looking to put Northwestern down in order in the top of the seventh and added another strikeout to his line in his 3.2 innings to close the game.

Mason Stewart was 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI. Jeff Taylor also had a pair of hits and Devin Buckner drove in the other Spartan run in the game.

UPSTATE SCORING BREAKDOWN
B4: The Spartans got their first baserunner of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Jason Matthews drew a leadoff walk. He then got a good jump on the 1-0 pitch to Taylor who singled through the 5-6 gap to advance Matthews to third. Buckner then ripped it straight back to the pitcher to drive in Matthews and get the Spartans on the board.

B7: Julian Rip singled to left field to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning but got out at second on Cameron MacIntosh's fielder's choice to short stop. Ben Olson then singled to third base to push MacIntosh over to second, and Stewart singled right through the pitcher's legs to get MacIntosh home.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans close out the weekend at Harley Park with another matchup against Northwestern on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

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