ASHEVILLE, N.C. – USC Upstate baseball pounded out 20 hits Thursday night in the series opener against UNC Asheville and defeated the Bulldogs 14-4 to improve to 35-14 (26-12 BSC) this season. Upstate snapped a four-game losing skid and handed Asheville its sixth straight loss as the Bulldogs fell to 15-31 (14-24 BSC).
Ace Jordan Marks tallied his 100th strikeout of the season in the fifth inning and earned his league-best 10th win of the season to become the all-time wins leader in Upstate's program history with 21 career wins. He went six innings allowing just four hits, two runs, two walks, and striking out eight batters.
"It was a great ballgame tonight. Jordan Marks did what Jordan Marks does and gave us six really good innings. We started fast offensively and did a lot of good things up and down the lineup, and a lot of guys had big days. We had good situational hitting, took advantage of some free stuff, and made a lot of hard contact tonight, which was good to see. It was a good start to the weekend, and we have to come ready to play tomorrow," said head coach Mike McGuire.
Sawyer Worrell took over in the bottom of the seventh and retired all six batters faced in two innings before Johnathan Carlyle closed things out in the bottom of the ninth, recording a strikeout to end the game.
Ten different Spartans notched a hit in the game, led by Noah Rabon who batted 5-for-6 to tie the school record of five hits in a single game. He got the Spartans on the board with a two-RBI single through the left side in the top of the first, and laced another RBI single through the left side in the second to put the Spartans up 4-0. He lit up the left side on the night with another RBI single that pushed Upstate's lead to 10-1 in the fifth, and finished his night with five RBI and three runs scored.
Jason Matthews went 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI single in the second and fourth innings, followed by an RBI double to right center in the seventh. Robby McGaha came off the bench in the fourth to go 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI.
With a pair of walks and pair of doubles on the night, Julian Rip extended his on-base streak to 17 games, and he made it home all four times he reached base in the game.
UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans will look for the series sweep tomorrow as they close out the regular season with a doubleheader against the Bulldogs. Game one is set for 1 p.m. with game two following at approximately 4:30 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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