SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate baseball bounced back with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday to take the series against High Point and improve to 14-3 (7-3 BSC) on the year. The Spartans put up eight runs across innings two through four in game one behind a scoreless five-inning effort by Alex Garbrick on the mound to take an 8-1 win. In the second game of the day, Upstate put up four runs in the first inning and added three more in the fifth to cruise to a 7-2 win.
"I'm really proud of our club and how we bounced back today after a disappointing day yesterday. We were really great in all three phases today. We had two great starts on the mound, and I thought the bullpen was really good and efficient in both games as well. Offensively, I really liked how we had contribution up and down the lineup. It was good to see us going back in the right direction and swinging the bat like we're capable of. I'm proud of how we bounced back and won the series against a good High Point club," said head Coach Mike McGuire.
Jeff Taylor led the Spartans at the plate on the day, batting 4-for-6 with a triple and three RBI. Noah Rabon hit 4-for-7 with three doubles, four runs scored, and two RBI. Devin Buckner also tallied four hits on the day with four runs scored, and he drove in a run.
The pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA on the day. Additionally, Upstate swiped seven bases out of seven attempts.
Game One
Garbrick got the start once again on the mound and improved to 4-0 on the year after tossing five complete scoreless innings with zero walks and six strikeouts. Nate Payne entered in the sixth and retired the side in order. He went on to close the game, allowing just one run, three hits, and striking out two batters in four innings of work.
Julian Rip drew a walk on four straight balls to lead off the bottom of the second, swiped second base, and then was pushed home on a single up the middle by Damon Maynard to get the Spartans on the board.
The Spartans put up four runs on five hits in the bottom of the third, starting with an RBI double off the left field wall from Rabon. Right after that, Jack Gallagher ripped a shot up the middle to knock in Rabon to push Upstate's lead to 3-0. Gallagher then stole second and eventually made it home on Taylor's RBI single through the gap on the right side. Taylor then stole second to set Maynard up for his second RBI of the game with a single to right that put the Spartans up 5-0.
Upstate kept things rolling in the bottom of the fourth as Cameron MacIntosh sent Buckner home on a sac fly to right before Rabon took third and home on a pair of wild pitches. Rip then stole home to extend Upstate's lead to 8-0.
High Point got a run back on an RBI double in the top of the ninth with one out, but Payne was able to shut things down for the Spartans as he retired the next two batters faced.
Game Two
Sawyer Worrell got the start on the mound in the series finale and earned his first win of the year after throwing a solid 5.0 innings and giving up just two runs on four hits while fanning two batters.
Sean Hupp took over in the sixth with no outs and a runner on second after a two-RBI double that got the Panthers on the board with their lone two runs of the game. Hupp struck out two batters in three innings of work before Kevin Davis closed things out as he retired the side in order in the top of the ninth.
Upstate took off with a four-run effort in the first inning of the game as Matthews reached on an error by the left fielder to lead things off. Buckner then drove him in with a single up the middle, and Rabon pushed Buckner to third with a double to left center to set Gallagher up for a sac fly to right. Rabon made it home on MacIntosh's groundout to second, and Taylor later drove in Rip with a triple to right to give the Spartans an early 4-0 lead.
The Spartans added three more in the bottom of the fifth when Rabon plated Buckner with his second double of the game before scoring on an error by the High Point third baseman. Taylor later ripped an RBI single to the gap in left center to drive in Gallagher for Upstate's seventh and final run of the game.
UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate hosts Presbyterian College in a Big South midweek matchup on Tuesday, March 23. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. from Harley Park.
Spartans Win Today, You Save Tomorrow!
Save 50% off online orders at Papa John's locations across the Upstate. Use the code USCUP50 when placing online orders the day after Upstate victories. Also tomorrow, visit The Beacon Drive-In located in Spartanburg and show the win graphic posted to the @UpstateSpartans Instagram account to claim a free sweet tea as part of the "Sweet Taste of Victory" promotion. No purchase necessary.
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