SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Looking to close out the home portion of the team's schedule strong and avenge an earlier season, extra-inning loss to Kennesaw State, USC Upstate baseball picked up its 22^nd home victory—tied for the second-most wins in a season at Cleveland S. Harley Park—with a late-inning 4-2 victory Tuesday night.
 
Pitching told the story for the Spartans in the victory as right-handers, freshman Julian Parson, redshirt sophomore Matthew Murphy, and senior Austin Morgan combined to limit the Owls to just six hits and two runs. Making his first career start, Parson allowed just one hit, carrying a no-hitter through the first three innings, while striking out two. Out of the bullpen, Morgan earned his fifth straight decision, earning the win after tossing two innings, allowing just a hit to improve to 4-2 on the year.
 
Despite seeing Kennesaw State take an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, Upstate wasted little time in answering the run and taking the lead as redshirt sophomore shortstop Troy Hamilton and sophomore third baseman Easton Cullison drove in runs in back-to-back at-bats. The Owls tied the game with a run in the seventh before a Kennesaw State error with the bases loaded in the eighth allowed two runs to score and give the Spartans the win.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 4; Kennesaw State 2
Records: USC Upstate (33-19-1); Kennesaw State (30-23)
Location: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Scoring Summary

• T4: Using a pair of deep fly balls following a pair of leadoff baserunners, Kennesaw State struck first as Spencer Hanson's fly ball resulted in a sacrifice fly as Zac Corbin came into score.
• B4: Opening the home half of the fourth with three consecutive hits, Upstate answered the Owls' run as Troy Hamilton's single drove home Noah Sullivan to tie the game at one as a throwing error by the leftfielder allowed Noah Rabon and Hamilton to advance into scoring position. Easton Cullison stepped to the plate following Hamilton and used a groundball to short to deliver Upstate the lead.
• T7: Scoring in a similar fashion to the team's first run, a sacrifice fly from Nick Colina brought in Nick Hassan as Kennesaw State tied the game at two.
• B8: Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, Jack Hennessy hit a ball up the middle that deflected off the glove of the Owl shortstop and into centerfield as Rabon and Cullison crossed the plate as Upstate took the lead.

 
Notable

• Picking up the team's 22^nd win at Cleveland S. Harley Park in 2020 with a 4-2 victory over Kennesaw State, Upstate wrapped the season with the second-most victories in a season at Harley Park, tying the D1 era record (2007-pres.) for victories at Harley Park, joining the 2012 season.
• After converting four straight saves, Austin Morgan earned his fifth straight decision out of the bullpen as he collected his fourth win of the year after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings Tuesday. In relief this season, he's tossed 12.1 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 16.
• With Tuesday's victory, the Spartans have won 70 games over the last two seasons, winning 37 last season and 33 this year. The feat marks the third time in program history with 70 or more combined wins in consecutive seasons, joining 1986-87 (70) and 1987-88 (71).

 
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