SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Wrapping his Spartan career as one of the top relief pitchers in the Division I era (2007-pres.), USC Upstate baseball's Kevin Davis is joining former teammate Devin Buckner at the professional level, inking a contract with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.
 
Over his three-year Upstate career, the Orland Park, Ill. Native posted a 5-3 record with 18 saves over 55 career appearances, posting 116 career strikeouts and a 12.78 strikeout per nine rate. As a junior in 2021, Davis found himself named an American Baseball Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region Second Team selection and on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watch List after leading the Big South and ranking 12^th nationally with 11 saves—third-most in a single season in program history.
 
At the conclusion of his career, Davis holds the Upstate career records for strikeouts per nine innings (12.78; 116 strikeouts over 81.2 innings) and ranks second in career saves with 18.
 
He becomes the seventh Spartan active in professional baseball after signing with the Otters on July 26, joining Devin Buckner (Evansville Otters; Frontier League), Alex Garbrick (Clearwater Threshers; Philadelphia Phillies), Sean Hupp (Great Falls Voyagers; Pioneer Baseball League), Jordan Marks (Lakeland Flying Tigers; Detroit Tigers), Jason Matthews (Winston-Salem Dash; Chicago White Sox), and Blake Whitney (Iowa Cubs; Chicago Cubs).
 
Davis made his Frontier League and Evansville debut Wednesday night against the New York Boulders, striking out three over a single inning of work.
 
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