CHARLESTON, S.C. – USC Upstate ace Jordan Marks went the distance Friday night for his first-career complete game shutout to open the series at Charleston Southern with a 2-0 win. The Spartans improved to 23-7 (14-7 BSC) while Charleston Southern fell to 10-15 (10-11 BSC).
After getting out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first, Marks settled into the game and was lights out the rest of the night as he retired the side in order in the third, fifth, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings while giving up just four hits and two walks in the game. He ended his night with nine strikeouts and improved to a league-best 6-1 record this season.
"It was kind of the Jordan Marks show tonight, and he really got better as the game went on. From about the fourth inning on, he was on cruise control. I liked our bats tonight. This was arguably the two best pitchers in the league going head-to-head tonight, and we were able to scratch a couple runs off RJ Petit, who is a really good arm. I liked how we competed at the plate. It was a good start to the weekend, and we've got to get ready to go tomorrow," said head coach Mike McGuire.
Jack Hennessy got the Spartans out in front early with a leadoff triple in the top of the first, and went on to score off a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the inning, Charleston Southern flied out to Hennessy in center before he threw out the runner tagging up and heading home to keep the Buccaneers off the board.
In the top of the fourth, Jason Matthews led off with his league-best 13th double of the year before Noah Rabon reached on a fielder's choice to extend his on-base streak to 21 games.
Matthews and Hennessy tallied back-to-back singles in the sixth to record their 15th and 10th multi-hit games of the season, respectively. Matthews ended his day 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk.
Rabon added another run in the top of the seventh as he led the inning off with a single through the left side, made it to second on a bad pickoff attempt by Petit, got to third on Jeff Taylor's groundout to third, and then scored on another errant throw by Petit.
Adam Grob recorded a late single up the middle in the ninth and has now safely reached base in 10 straight games.
UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans will look to take the series sweep tomorrow with a doubleheader 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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