Weekend Series
March 11-13, 2022 | 2 p.m. / 2 p.m. / 1 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (8-4; 0-0 Big South) vs. Northern Kentucky (4-7; 0-0 Horizon)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Northern Kentucky
Game One: RHP Jacob Curry (0-0; 4.61 ERA) | RHP Kyle Klingenbeck (1-2; 10.95 ERA)
Game Two: RHP Austin Morgan (1-0; 3.77 ERA) | LHP Ben Gerl (1-2; 6.62 ERA)
Game Three: LHP Sawyer Worrell (1-0; 3.95 ERA) | To Be Announced
 
Series History
Having not met since 2015, USC Upstate and Northern Kentucky are meeting for the fourth three-game set in series history after meeting each season from 2013-15. Overall, the Norse lead the series 5-4 and has taken each of the last four games, sweeping the Spartans in 2015. Of the three series between the two clubs, Upstate has won two of the three, taking the series in 2013 and 2014.
 
Last Time Out
USC Upstate: vs. The Citadel (W, 3-2)
Northern Kentucky: vs. The Citadel (L, 9-5; W, 8-4; L, 9-5)
 
Players to Watch
Upstate:
Pitcher: After collecting the longest outing of his career last Sunday against Xavier, pitching 7.0 innings while scattering three hits and one earned run, redshirt sophomore left-hander Sawyer Worrell looks to build upon this start as he is slated to get the ball in game three. He racked up seven strikeouts against the Musketeers, the second-most in a game in his career as he leads all Spartan starting pitchers with a 9.22 K/9 figure this season.
 
Position Player: Leading the Big South in hits (20), on-base percentage (.544), runs scored (19), and runs batted in (19), senior first baseman Devin Buckner has been the catalyst for the top-scoring offense in the Big South. He also ranks third in the league in batting average and slugging percentage, posting totals of .444 and .667, respectively, while leading Upstate with seven multi-hit and six multi-RBI efforts this season.
 
Northern Kentucky:
Pitcher: Southpaw Ben Gurl has proven a workhorse for Northern Kentucky's pitching staff this season, tossing a team-best 17.2 innings over four starts this season. He collected the Norse's lone win in their series with The Citadel, going 6.0 innings with four strikeouts in an 8-4 win. The outing marked his second this season that he's gone 6.0 innings and the second to see him throw 90 or more pitches.
 
Position Player: Leading the Horizon League in five different offensive categories, third baseman Manny Vorhees enters the weekend as Northern Kentucky's top hitter, hitting .409 (18-of-44) this season with six double and three home runs. He's also driven in a team-high 13 runs while scoring 12 more for the Norse this year as he leads the Horizon League in all three slash line categories (.409/.509/.750).
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following its three-game series with Northern Kentucky, USC Upstate wraps up its stretch of seven of eight games against teams from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, hosting Cincinnati Monday at Cleveland S. Harley Park. First pitch for the non-conference game is set for 5 p.m. ET.
 
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