Daniel Gernon and Grant Sherrod Collect Multi-Hit Games, But Baseball Falls 11-3 Versus Toledo

Saturday, February 25

Spartanburg, S.C.

2:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

5-2

Toledo

2-3

Toledo

USC Upstate

Daniel Gernon Heading Out vs. Michigan State 2023

Photo by: Ava Morgan

2/25/2023 9:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Looking to avenge its first defeat of the season and earn a split in the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic heading into the event's final day, USC Upstate baseball dropped its second straight decision in the event, falling 11-3 Saturday afternoon against Toledo at Cleveland S. Harley Park.

In spite of scattering 11 hits, reaching double-digit hits for the third time in four games, Upstate couldn't string its hits together to take advantage of multiple instances with runners in scoring position. Continuing a strong start to the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic, redshirt junior rightfielder Grant Sherrod followed up his career-high four RBI in Friday's game with a career-best four hits Saturday, going 4-for-5 for the Spartans.

With the other multi-hit game for a Spartan, redshirt junior centerfield Daniel Gernon collected three hits in four trips to the plate, adding to his 4-for-4 day yesterday, giving him three multi-hit efforts on the season. Atop the batting order, redshirt junior shortstop Troy Hamilton collected his second multi-RBI game of the year, driving in two of Upstate's three runs.

Game Information
Score: Toledo 11; USC Upstate 3
Records: USC Upstate (5-2; 0-0 Big South); Toledo (2-3; 0-0 MAC)
Location: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.

Scoring Summary

B2: Jumping ahead for the second time in two games during the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic, Upstate took advantage of three Toledo walks and a base hit, to plate the game's first run. Noah Sullivan and Cole Caruso opened the inning with walks before a Grant Sherrod single loaded the bases for Ty Tilson who walked to bring home the run.
T4: Tying the ballgame, Toledo's Owen Jackson homered to right-center before back-to-back two-out hits from Brayden White and Brian Fry preceded the Rockets' second tally of the frame. A wild pitch allowed Fry to score and deliver Toledo the lead before Daunte DeCello single to left to plate Fry.
B4: Seeing Tilson advance 90 feet from home via a wild pitch during his at-bat, Troy Hamilton got back one of Upstate's surrendered runs with a single back through the middle, cutting the deficit in half.
T6: Getting its run back, Toledo took advantage of three walks in the inning to score its first run, coming in via a bases-loaded free pass. A single into center by Jeron Williams drove home two additional runs before a wild pitch plated a fourth. The final two runs in a six-run frame came off a Garret Pike homer.
T7: Adding to its lead, Toledo drove home its 10^th run of the afternoon in the seventh as Fry doubled into the right-center gap to extend the lead.
T8: Earning a free base, advancing to second on a throwing error, and stealing third, Williams raced home to score on a wild pitch, ending the scoring for the Rockets.
B8: Following up a walk to Al Holguin and a double down the rightfield line by Johnny Sweeney, Hamilton drove in his second run on a groundout to short.

Notable

Continuing his hot start to the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic, Grant Sherrod notched a career-high four hits Friday after collecting a career-best four RBI Friday. The game marked his second multi-hit effort of the season and the sixth of his Upstate career. Since earning his first start in game one at North Florida, he's fashioned a four-game hitting streak with at least a hit in each start this season.
Another Spartan off to a strong start to the weekend, Daniel Gernon has picked up seven hits in eight at-bats this weekend, collecting three more Saturday for his third multi-hit game in an Upstate uniform. He leads Upstate with 11 hits on the season and upped his batting average to .550 through seven games.
Coming on to pitch for the first time this season, freshmen right-handers Braden Consaul and James Strohbusch each made their Upstate debuts. Appearing as a defensive replacement, freshman catcher Jack Austin also made his Spartan debut. The trio marks the 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st Spartans to debut this season.

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Friday, February 20

Next Event

Northwestern

W, 9-0

Feb 26 (Sun)

1:00 p.m.

Box Score Recap Game Notes Box Score (PDF)Watch Preview Live stats History

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: JOHNSON, Noah (1-0)

L: Matheny, Chase (0-1)

Toledo

Batting:

2B: SYKES, Mason 1 ; FRY, Brian 1

HR: PIKE, Garret 1 ; JACKSON, Owen 1

RBI: WILLIAMS, Jeron 2 ; PIKE, Garret 2 ; JACKSON, Owen 1 ; FRY, Brian 1 ; DeCELLO, Daunte 1 ; MACKIEWICZ, Scott 1

Base Running:

RUNS: WILLIAMS, Jeron 2 ; PIKE, Garret 1 ; JACKSON, Owen 2 ; KONCZAK, Caden 1 ; WHITE, Brayden 1 ; FRY, Brian 2 ; DeCELLO, Daunte 1 ; MACKIEWICZ, Scott 1