RADFORD, Va. – USC Upstate baseball held off Radford for a 3-2 series-opening win Friday night despite frigid, windy conditions. The Spartans racked up 11 hits, and six of them came with two outs throughout the game. Jordan Marks was once again lights out in his Friday night start to help Upstate improve to 17-5 (10-5 BSC) this season.

"I'm proud of what we did offensively even though it was a tough day to hit because of the wind. We had a couple good at-bats in some timely spots. Jordan Marks gave us another good start and Sean Hupp was good there at the end as well. It was a good start to the weekend, and I liked how we battled," said head coach Mike McGuire.

With today's win, Coach McGuire has hit the milestone of 400 career wins as a head coach. His all-time record currently sits at 400-286 with a 30-10 record so far at Upstate. Prior to joining the Spartan program, McGuire went 90-80 in three seasons at Lander, 52-9 in one season at Louisburg, and most recently led Morehead State for seven years racking up a 228-187 mark.

Marks improved to 5-1 on the year as he pitched into the eighth inning with eight strikeouts and just two walks early on. He was responsible for just one run in the game. Marks got out of an early bases-loaded jam after forcing a 6-4-3 double play in the bottom of the first to keep Radford off the board. He retired the side in order in the third and fifth innings.

Sean Hupp picked up his second save of the year after he entered in the bottom of the eighth with Upstate up 2-0, two outs, and a runner on first. He struck out a batter and didn't allow a walk in his solid closing performance.

Jason Matthews batted 3-for-5 with a double, triple and two runs scored in the game. Devin Buckner had a pair of hits with a double and two RBI. Noah Rabon and Damon Maynard each had a multi-hit performance as well with two each, and Rabon extended his on-base streak to 13 games.

Jack Hennessy had a two-out RBI-double and a pair of diving catches early in the game.

Back-to-back doubles got Upstate on the board in the fifth as Matthews knocked a shot off the wall in right center, and Buckner ripped one to the same spot in the next at-bat to drive in Matthews. The Spartans doubled their lead in the sixth after Maynard drew a walk and was pushed home on Hennessy's two-out double down the left field line.

Radford got a run back in the bottom of the eighth with three singles in the inning, but Upstate responded by scratching another run across in the top of the ninth after a leadoff triple from Matthews set Buckner up for his second RBI of the night on a groundout to short.

The Highlanders threatened in the bottom of the ninth and plated another run on a safety squeeze, but with two outs, Garrett Matheny lined out to Julian Rip in right field to end the day.

UP Next for the Spartans
Upstate will look to take the series tomorrow in a doubleheader against the Highlanders 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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