Weekend MatchUP
Game 1: Friday, May 7 | 6:00 p.m. EST
Game 2: Saturday, May 8 | 2:00 p.m. EST
Game 3: Saturday, May 8 | 5:30 p.m. EST
USC Upstate (30-10, 21-9 BSC) at High Point University (14-21, 12-15 BSC)
Williard Stadium | High Point, N.C.
Projected Starting Pitchers
Game 1: RHP Jordan Marks [8-1, 1.54 ERA, 83K] vs RHP Grey Lyttle [4-4, 3.18 ERA, 74K]
Game 2: RHP Alex Garbrick [6-2, 2.12 ERA, 58K] vs RHP Teddy Merritt [1-0, 2.22 ERA, 15K]
Game 3: TBA vs TBA
Series History
Upstate and High point have met eight times on the diamond dating back to April 4, 2008, when the Spartans defeated the Panthers 5-4 in Spartanburg. The Panthers then won the next three games of the series before the Spartans snapped the losing streak in a 7-5 home win on March 24, 2019 in game three of a weekend series. Earlier this season, Upstate took two of three from the Panthers in a home weekend series, and the all-time series is tied at 4-4.
Last Time Out
The Spartans are coming off their first nonconference loss of the season and first midweek loss under head coach Mike McGuire and his staff as Upstate snapped a seven-game win streak with a 9-2 loss at Clemson Wednesday night. The Spartans jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Tigers plated three runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead and added five more in the eighth off a three-run homer and two-RBI double for nine unanswered runs in the game. Nine different pitchers made an appearance for the Spartans on the day and starter Sawyer Worrell was credited with his first loss of the season.
High Point won the weekend series at Winthrop the last time out, taking game one on Friday 11-2 before splitting a doubleheader on Saturday. Winthrop won the first game of the twin bill 11-10 with a walk-off homer in extras before the Panthers closed the day in an offensive slugfest with a 19-15 win.
Ones to Watch
Upstate:
- Friday night ace Jordan Marks sits at the top of the conference with 83 strikeouts and a 1.54 ERA, which respectively rank 23rd and 12th nationally in all of DI. This past Friday against PC, he inched closer to a school record for strikeouts in a single season, and he needs just four more strikeouts to break the record. He was also credited with his league-best eighth win of the year, which broke the DI program record for wins in a single season and tied the overall program record.
- Senior Julian Rip was just named Big South Player of the Week on Monday for his efforts in the season sweep against PC this past weekend. He tallied a home run and a triple with six RBI as he hit .600 (6-for-10) across the weekend. In an 8-4 game two win, he batted 3-for-4 with an RBI triple in the fourth and an RBI single in the fifth. He drove in four crucial runs in the series finale in which the Spartans won 12-11. His sac fly in the second inning put the Spartans up 3-0, and then after PC took a 4-3 lead in the fourth, Rip drilled a three-run go-ahead homer to left center to retake the lead for Upstate, 6-4, and the Spartans would not lose the lead the rest of the night. Rip also scored five runs and fielded a perfect weekend in right field.
- Righty reliever Kevin Davis was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List last Wednesday and went on to have a stellar weekend against PC. Davis entered Friday night's game in the top of the eighth inning with bases loaded, no outs, and the game-tying run at the plate. He struck out the entire side swinging and closed out the game without allowing a run. In game three, he took over to start off the top of the ninth with the Spartans holding onto a 12-11 lead and once again struck out the side swinging to complete the series sweep. Davis was named Big South Co-Relief Pitcher of the Week for his efforts. He currently leads the conference and ranks 17th in the nation with seven saves, which is tied for fifth in the program record book for saves in a single season. Davis boasts a 0.43 ERA and has 34 strikeouts through 21.0 innings pitched.
High Point:
- Friday night starter Grey Lyttle began and ended the doubleheader against Winthrop on the mound for the Panthers as he started game one and was called on to close out game two, to become the only pitcher in the country to start game one of a doubleheader and close the second game this season.
- Game two starter Teddy Merritt was named Big South Starting Pitcher of the Week after going the distance in Friday's win in HPU's series opener against Winthrop. He only allowed five hits and two unearned runs in the outing.
- Cole Singsank had a big week at Winthrop, totaling eight hits over the weekend. He has recorded a hit in 23 of his last 28 games, including 11 of the last 12. He leads the team with a .370 batting average, .458 on base percentage, and 44 hits, is tied for the lead in RBI (26), and is second in doubles (9).
Notes
- Currently riding a seven-game conference win streak and sitting at a 30-10 record, the Spartans are three wins shy of matching the Division I program record for wins in a single season. Additionally, Upstate's 21 Big South wins so far this season are the most conference wins in single season in the DI era for the Spartans.
- Seven of Upstate's main starters are batting over .300 this season, led by Jack Hennessy with a .358 average which also ranks sixth in the Big South. As a team, the Spartans rank second in the conference and 19th in the nation with a .302 team batting average.
- Shortstop Jason Matthews leads the Big South with 52 hits, and five of the top 10 players in that category are Spartans as Devin Buckner ranks fourth with 50, Noah Rabon ranks fifth with 49, Jack Hennessy is tied for sixth with 48, and Jack Gallagher is tied for seventh with 47.
- Upstate's pitching staff continues to dominate the Big South as the Spartans lead the conference and rank sixth in the nation with a 2.94 ERA. Upstate also leads the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.11, 17th nationally), hits allowed per nine innings (7.98, 37th nationally), walks allowed per nine innings (3.05, 17th nationally), and WHIP (1.23, 18th nationally).
- For the second week in a row and the seventh week overall, the Spartans are receiving votes in the USA Today Top-25 Coaches' Poll. Upstate is also back to receiving votes in the NCBWA Top-30 Poll for the fifth week overall this season.
UP Next for the Spartans
The Spartans close out a five-game road stint next week with a midweek matchup at UNC Asheville on Tuesday, May 11. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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