Wednesday's MatchUP
March 9, 2022 | 12:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (7-4; 0-0 Big South); The Citadel (8-3; 0-0 SoCon)
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park | Charleston, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | The Citadel
RHP Lukas Touma (0-0; 3.00 ERA) | RHP Devin Beckley (2-1 (3.97 ERA)
 
Series History
Wednesday's meeting between USC Upstate and The Citadel marks the 15^th all-time meeting between the two programs in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). Overall, the Spartans lead the series 8-6 and have taken each of the last three meetings in the series. Despite not meeting last season, the last meeting between the two programs was a 5-3 victory for Upstate at Cleveland S. Harley Park on March 3, 2020.
 
Last Time Out
USC Upstate: vs. Xavier (W, 7-6; L, 9-7; L, 7-4)
The Citadel: vs. Northern Kentucky (W, 9-5; L, 8-4; W, 9-5)
 
Players to Watch
Upstate:
Pitcher: Making his second start of the season, redshirt freshman right-hander Lukas Touma gets the call in the midweek for the first time this season. He tossed 3.0 innings in a start on Feb. 26 against George Mason, surrendering just a hit and a run while collecting two strikeouts before giving way to the bullpen in a 2-1 walk-off victory.
 
Position Player: Leading the Spartans in batting average (.471) and on-base percentage (.571) and picking up a victory on the mound, freshman designated hitter Noah Sullivan earned his first Big South Freshman of the Week honors Monday. For the season, he's hitting .378 (17-of-45) with 10 RBI and 10 runs scored.
 
Xavier:
Pitcher: After making four appearances and a start in the midweek this season, righty Devin Beckley gets the call on the bump for the Bulldogs Wednesday. He sports a 2-1 record over 11.1 innings, scattering six hits and six runs while striking out 14 against six walks.
 
Position Player: Hitting .389 on the season and leading the country in sac bunts (nine) in 2022, shortstop Tilo Skole is a table-setter towards the top of The Citadel lineup. He's hitting .389 (14-of-36) this season, driving home 13 runs and scoring nine. He also has struck out just one time through 36 at-bats this season.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following the team's Wednesday midweek at The Citadel, Upstate returns to the friendly confines of Cleveland S. Harley Park, welcoming Northern Kentucky for a three-game series. First pitch of the series opener is set for 3 p.m. ET Friday with first pitches Saturday and Sunday set for 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
 
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