ROCK HILL, S.C. – USC Upstate baseball suffered a doubleheader sweep at Winthrop on Saturday after dropping the first game of the day 5-2 followed by a 2-1 loss in the series finale. Noah Rabon tallied three doubles on the day, but the Spartans fell to 16-5 (9-5 BSC) on the year with the two losses.

GAME ONE: Upstate 2, Winthrop 5

Alex Garbrick got the start on the mound in the first game of the day and threw 3.2 innings while giving up just one earned run and striking out four. Derek Sivec made his Spartan debut when he entered in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and runners on the corners. He struck out the lone batter he faced to get out of the inning and sat the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the eighth.

Winthrop capitalized on a Spartan error to plate three runs in the first inning, and the Spartans ultimately could not answer for that. Cameron MacIntosh led off the top of the second with a single through the right side and was later knocked in by Damon Maynard to cut Upstate's early deficit to 3-1.

The Eagles added another run in the fourth with an RBI single to center, and the Spartans had a great chance in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third with no outs, but they couldn't bring anyone home.

An RBI double for Winthrop in the seventh would push the home team's lead to 5-1. Upstate seemed to be sparking a rally in the top of the ninth as Jeff Taylor doubled down the left field line and Adam Grob singled up the middle in the next at bat, but the Spartans were only able to get one more run back as Mason Stewart drove in Taylor on a fielder's choice.

GAME TWO: Upstate 1, Winthrop 2

Sawyer Worrell started on the hill for the Spartans in the second game of the day and went three innings with three strikeouts and no earned runs allowed. Kevin Davis struck out four in his two innings of work but picked up the loss after walking in a run in the bottom of the eighth.

An RBI single in the third inning got Winthrop on the board, and despite loading the bases with just one out in the fifth, Upstate would remain scoreless until the sixth inning when Noah Rabon led things off with his third double of the day before making it home on an RBI single to left from Jeff Taylor.

UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate will travel to Radford next week for a three-game series against the Highlanders on Thursday, April 1, and Friday, April 2. First pitch for game one on Thursday is set for 6 p.m. with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The series finale will follow at approximately 4:30 p.m. This will be the second series between the Spartans and Highlanders this season, as Upstate swept Radford in the conference opener earlier this month.

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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