GREENVILLE, S.C. – After picking up its ninth Power-Five win with its victory over Northwestern Sunday, USC Upstate baseball wasted no time in earning its 10^th such victory, using timely hitting and solid pitching out of the bullpen to earn the club's second-ever win over Clemson with a 6-3 decision Tuesday afternoon at Fluor Field.
 
Despite going down two runs in the second inning, Upstate remained unfazed and went to work, erasing the deficit, taking the lead, weathering a comeback attempt, and adding insurance. Seeing the first five men in the inning reach base, the Spartans exploded for four runs in the frame with redshirt junior second baseman Noah Rabon and sophomore third baseman Cole Caruso each delivering two-run doubles.
 
Coming on out of the pen, freshman right-hander Mathieu Curtis settled the Spartans and allowed just one run over 4.0 innings of work to earn the win. He gave way to sophomore righty Noah Sullivan who nailed down the save with three strikeouts and one hit allowed over the final 3.0 innings of the night. Behind them, the defense flashed the leather and made numerous clutch plays to keep runs off the board and bring the bats back to the plate to tack on insurance runs, like those scored in the seventh.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 6; Clemson 3
Records: USC Upstate (7-2; 0-0 Big South); Clemson (4-4; 0-0 ACC)
Location: Fluor Field | Greenville, S.C.
   
Scoring Summary

• T2: Leading off the second inning, Clemson's Will Taylor launched a solo homer over the "Green Monster" in leftfield. Adding to its lead, the Tigers worked the bases loaded and a walk with them loaded to grab a two-run lead.
• B4: Loading the bases with a leadoff single and consecutive walks, Upstate did its damage as the first five batters of the inning reached base. Noah Rabon doubled down the rightfield line to push two across and put runners on second and third. Following Rabon's lead, Cole Caruso doubled into right to clear the bases and deliver a 4-2 Spartan advantage.
• T6: Putting two runners in scoring position with back-to-back doubles to start the inning, Clemson got another run to cut Upstate's lead in half with a fielder's choice to short where Upstate retired the runner attempting to move to third.
• B7: Setting up a run-scoring opportunity with a leadoff hit, Daniel Gernon greeted a new Tiger hurler as he stayed inside the baseball and punched a triple down the rightfield line and into the corner to drive home Johnny Sweeney. Gernon came into score as Noah Sullivan helped himself at the plate with a sac fly to right.

 
Notable

• With its win over Clemson Tuesday, Upstate earned its second-ever victory over the Tigers after downing the Tigers on March 9, 2021. The win also marks the Spartans' 10^th Power-Five victory under head coach Mike McGuire, winning at least two such games in each of his four seasons at Upstate.
• Coming on out of the pen for the first time in his career, Mathieu Curtis threw a steadying 4.0 innings, surrendering just one run as he earned his second career victory. He is the first freshman to earn a win in his first two career appearances since Noah Sullivan won his first three appearances to start the 2022 season.
• Speaking of Sullivan, he followed Curtis out of the bullpen and pitched the final three innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out two, including a pair with runners in scoring position in the seventh.  Retiring all nine batters he faced—the lone hit was erased on a double play—he recorded his first career save and the first save by a Spartan this season.
• With two hits against Clemson, Jace Rinehart collected his second straight multi-hit game and has reached base in six of his last eight trips to the plate dating back to Sunday. With two-run doubles, Cole Caruso and Noah Rabon collected their second and first multi-RBI game, respectively.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Following its midweek game with Clemson Tuesday, Upstate hits the road for its first weekend series away from Harley Park, travelling to Alabama to face Troy. The Spartans and Trojans are set for a three-game series with games Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (4 p.m.), and Sunday (2 p.m.).
 
Youth Baseball Field of Dreams Program
Bring your youth baseball team to meet the Spartans and take the field for the National Anthem at select games at Harley Park this season! The program is free and so is admission thanks to Ingles! For details and to sign up, go to www.upstatespartans.com/fieldofdreams
 
Help Us Achieve Home Field Advantage at Fluor Field
USC Upstate is right back at Fluor Field next Wednesday, March 8 to host South Carolina at 6:30 p.m.! Help create a home-field advantage for the Spartans against the Gamecocks and make Fluor Upstate's home away from home. Tickets range from $9-14 and Fluor Field does have a clear bag policy. Buy Now: Click Here to purchase
 
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