Julian Rip
3
Winner High Point HPU 7-7
1
USC Upstate UPST 12-3
Winner
High Point HPU
7-7
3
Final
1
USC Upstate UPST
12-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
High Point HPU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 9 1
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 2

W: LYTTLE, Grey (2-3) L: Marks, Jordan (3-1) S: DEAN, Parker (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Spartans Drop Series Opener to High Point

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Upstate bats struggled Friday night as the Spartans dropped their series opener to High Point 3-1 at Cleveland S. Harley Park. The Spartans attempted a ninth inning rally, but it fell short and Upstate now sits at 12-3 (5-3 BSC) on the year with the loss.

"I'm disappointed in the result today. I thought we pitched well enough to win, but we have to do more offensively. Some guys are too passive at the plate, and we didn't take advantage of a couple opportunities we had. We have to show up to play tomorrow," said head coach Mike McGuire.

Jordan Marks got the start on the mound and threw into the seventh inning giving up just one run and a pair of walks while striking out five. He fielded a heads up play in the top of the second to get the lead runner out heading to third, and then later forced a groundout to short to strand High Point runners on second and third.

Julian Rip had a strong night with two hits and the lone run scored in the game for Upstate. In the top of the ninth, he caught a fly ball in right and kept a High Point run off the board as he gunned down the runner trying to tag up with a perfect throw to Devin Buckner at the plate.

The game stayed scoreless until the top of the seventh when High Point struck first with an RBI single. The Panthers extended their lead in the top of the ninth starting with a leadoff solo homer over the right field wall. Then with runners on first and second, Noah Rabon wasn't able to field a hard shot to third base which let another run score for a 3-0 High Point lead.

The Spartans threatened in the bottom of the ninth as Rip led things off with a successful bunt down the left line. Jack Hennessy later dropped a shot right inside the left field line for a single to load the bases, and Jason Matthews drew a walk with nowhere to go to push Rip home and get the Spartans on the board. Back-to-back pop ups however left the bases loaded for Upstate to end the night.

UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate will look to bounce back tomorrow in a doubleheader against High Point beginning at 1 p.m.

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