Tuesday's Matchup
March 14, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (9-8; 0-0 Big South) vs. The Citadel (10-5; 0-0 SoCon)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | The Citadel
RHP Mathieu Curtis (2-1; 9.75 ERA) | RHP Gant Starling (0-0; 7.50 ERA)
 
Series History
Tuesday's meeting between USC Upstate and The Citadel marks the 16^th all-time meeting between the two programs in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). The Spartans lead the series 9-6 and have taken each of the last four meetings in the series. In last season's win, Upstate pitching held The Citadel without a baserunner for 6.1 innings and without a hit for 7.2 innings as the Spartans earned a late victory.
 
Last Time Out
USC Upstate: vs. James Madison (W, 6-5; L, 2-1; W, 9-6)
The Citadel: vs. Holy Cross (W, 11-8; W, 11-4; W, 12-1)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate
Pitcher: Appearing twice out of the bullpen last week, redshirt sophomore right-hander Jake Cubbler permitted just four baserunners over 4.2 innings of work against Sacred Heart and James Madison. He opened his week recording each of the five outs he recorded via strikeout as he allowed just a single hit over 1.2 scoreless innings. He followed up with another five-strikeout performance in game two of Saturday's doubleheader with James Madison, earning the win in the comeback victory as he allowed just one hit and two walks. On the year, he sports a 2.70 while striking out 12 over 6.2 innings of work.
 
Position Player: Earning a start in each game versus James Madison last week, junior second baseman Easton Cullison picked up a hit in each game, including a pair of multi-hit efforts in both ends of a Saturday doubleheader. He finished the series going 5-for-9 at the plate with a pair of RBI and a stolen base and he earned a hit in his lone at-bat versus No. 20 South Carolina in the midweek, improving him to 6-of-10 from the plate for the week. He enters the new week hitting .500 on the season and on a four-game hitting streak.
 
The Citadel
Pitcher: Taking the ball in the midweek matchup, right-hander Gant Starling makes his first career start for the Bulldogs, following 32 career relief appearances. On the year, he's appeared in six games, tossing 6.0 innings as each appearance has seen him throw an inning. He owns a 7.50 ERA on the season, surrendering five hits, five earned runs, and five walks against eight strikeouts.
 
Position Player: One of the top hitters in the SoCon, first baseman Noah Mitchell enters the midweek ranked second in the conference in batting average, doubles, and slugging percentage and ranks third in RBI. He leads the Bulldogs, hitting .426 on the season with 11 of his 23 hits going for extra bases, including seven doubles, as he's driven in 19 runs this season.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
After the team's first single midweek game of the season, the Spartans continue their homestand with three games at Cleveland S. Harley Park this weekend. Upstate hosts Princeton Friday and Sunday and Cincinnati Saturday with Princeton and Cincinnati also playing a pair of neutral site games Friday and Saturday.
 
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
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans 
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes!  Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!