Weekend Series
April 29-30, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. / 5:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (25-16; 13-5 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (14-28; 5-10 Big South)
John Henry Moss Stadium & Cleveland S. Harley Park | Boiling Springs, N.C. & Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ (Friday Only) | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Gardner-Webb
Game One: RHP Jacob Curry (4-2; 5.12 ERA) | RHP Joe Simeone (5-5; 4.05 ERA)
Game Two: RHP Noah Sullivan (3-0; 4.05 ERA) | LHP Tyler Switalski (2-4; 4.14 ERA)
Game Three: LHP Sawyer Worrell (2-0; 4.37 ERA) | To Be Announced
 
Series History
Meeting in a three-game, split-site series Friday and Saturday, USC Upstate and Gardner-Webb are meeting for the 30^th, 31^st, and 32^nd time in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). The Runnin' Bulldogs lead the all-time series 17-12, but Upstate has won three of the last five meetings, taking a midweek contest on April 20 with the teams splitting four games last season. Upstate took the earlier season meeting 12-5, hitting a D1-era six homers in the game.
 
Last Time Out
USC Upstate: vs. North Carolina A&T (W, 12-7; W, 15-6; W, 6-3)
Gardner-Webb: vs. Wake Forest (L, 17-9)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate:
Pitcher: Tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in game three against North Carolina A&T, redshirt sophomore Sawyer Worrell collected his first save of the 2022 season in a 6-3 Spartan victory. Over his 2.0 innings of work, he surrendered just one hit while striking out two. For the season, he's struck out 22 batters to just eight walks over 22.2 innings with his strikeout per nine inning total of 8.74 heading Upstate starting pitching.
 
Position Player: Out of the leadoff spot, senior catcher Devin Buckner led Upstate in hits, extra-base hits, free bases (walks+HBP), runs scored, and runs batted in through five games last week. He collected a hit in each of the team's five games while scoring a run in four games and driving in a run in four games. He finished the week 8-for-19 (.421) at the plate with two doubles, a triple, two homers, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored. For the season, he leads Upstate in all three slash line categories, posting a line of .346/.490/.549.
 
Gardner-Webb:
Pitcher: Taking the ball in game one for Gardner-Webb, Joe Simone holds a 4.05 ERA and a 5-5 record heading into his team-leading 11^th start of the season. The UCONN transfer's five victories lead the Runnin' Bulldog's pitching staff as he's pitched a team-high 66.2 innings, collecting 75 strikeouts on the season—a total that ranks second in the Big South. Over his last four starts, Simone has tossed no fewer than 6.1 innings, throwing a complete game against Winthrop on April 14.
 
Position Player: Entering the weekend, first baseman Alec Burns leads Gardner-Webb with a .302 batting average, collecting 32 hits over 106 at-bats in 35 games this season. He paces the Runnin' Bulldogs in home runs and ranks second on the team RBI, hitting seven homers and driving in 24. In the earlier meeting with Upstate, Burns finished 1-for-3 with a homer.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following the weekend's series with Gardner-Webb, Upstate heads on the road for the first of five consecutive road contests next Tuesday. The Spartans head to Cullowhee, N.C. for a midweek matchup with Western Carolina with first pitch set for 6 p.m. ET.
 
JOIN UP
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes! Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!
 
Sparty's Ball and Auction:
Reserve your tickets for Sparty's Ball and Auction featuring The Andrews Brothers Dueling Pianos, Saturday, May 21, 2022, at upstatespartans.com/spartysball.

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