SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartans strung together back-to-back five-run innings while the pitching staff combined for a shutout Tuesday evening to defeat Presbyterian College 13-0 in a midweek conference matchup at Harley Park. USC Upstate improves to 15-3 overall and 8-3 against Big South opponents with the win.

"It was a good ballgame today. Trey Miller gave us a good start, and the bullpen did really well. I thought we started slow offensively, but it was good to put those big innings together where we had big at bats up and down the lineup. I like how we're playing coming off the weekend. I thought we started slow, but I thought we finished strong. It's a good start to the week heading into a very important series this weekend at Winthrop," said head coach Mike McGuire.

Freshman Trey Miller got his second straight midweek start on the mound and threw 5.0 solid innings without giving up a run or walk. He allowed just four hits and struck out three batters to pick up his first win of the season. Austin Morgan took over to start the top of the sixth and tossed a complete inning with two strikeouts.

Kyle Schmitt and Ethan McCarty each made their second appearance of the season on the mound today. Schmitt commanded the seventh and eighth innings, retiring all six batters faced including a strikeout, before McCarty closed things out by sitting the side down in order in the ninth, also with a strikeout.

Nine different Spartans combined for 13 hits on the day with six of those hits being good enough for extra bases. Jack Hennessy and Noah Rabon each had a pair of doubles while Jeff Taylor and Cameron MacIntosh each recorded a triple. Hennessy batted 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, and Rabon went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Jack Gallagher also drove in three runs on the day as he went 2-for-3 at the plate with a sac fly.

The Spartans finally got their first hit of the day in the third inning when Taylor led off with a single up the middle. He was later knocked in on an RBI single through the right side by Devin Buckner to get Upstate on the board.

In the fifth, Damon Maynard got things started with a single to the gap in right center. Hennessy burned the PC left fielder with a stand up double that drove Maynard all the way home from first. Then, Jason Matthews drew his second walk of the day before Buckner was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out and force a Blue Hose pitching change with Rabon coming to the plate. Rabon drove in a pair of runs with his first double of the day to left center, and then Gallagher plated Buckner on a sac fly to left field. After that, MacIntosh ripped an RBI triple to left center to put the Spartans up 6-0.

The Spartans didn't let up in the sixth as Taylor started things off with a leadoff triple and made it home on Hennessy's second double of the day down the right field line. After Matthews was hit by a pitch, both he and Hennessy swiped a bag to get runners on second and third with one out. Buckner reached and Hennessy scored on a misplayed ball by the PC pitcher, and then Rabon sent his second double of the day to right center to drive in Matthews. Gallagher then plated a pair of runs with a single up the middle to push Upstate's lead to 11-0. The Spartans would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh.

UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans travel to Winthrop this coming weekend for a three-game series against the Eagles. Game one is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, March 26 with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

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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