Weekend Matchups
March 16-19, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. / 4:00 p.m. / 1:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (10-8; 0-0 Big South) vs. Cincinnati (8-8; 0-0 AAC); vs. Princeton (3-9; 0-0 Ivy League)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Opponent
Game One (vs. Cincinnati): RHP Reese Dutton (1-2; 4.12 ERA) | To Be Announced
Game Two (vs. Princeton): LHP Henry Proger (2-2; 4.09 ERA) | RHP Andrew D'Alessio (0-3; 6.92 ERA)
Game Three (vs. Princeton): RHP Chase Matheny (0-2; 7.84 ERA) | LHP Matt Scannell (1-0; 16,88 ERA)
 
Series History
Welcoming Cincinnati and Princeton to Cleveland S. Harley Park, Upstate is facing a pair of teams it has faced once or has never faced in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.). The Spartans and Bearcats met last season at Harley Park for a midweek contest, an 8-3 win for Upstate on March 14, 2022. Upstate has never faced Princeton and last faced a team from the Ivy League on Feb. 23, 2020, when Brown played at Harley Park.
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Helping Upstate's offense break out and plate a program-record-tying 25 runs Tuesday against The Citadel, sophomore third baseman Cole Caruso drove home a career-high five runs for the Spartans, going 2-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run, two walks, and three runs scored. In five games in the leadoff spot, he's picked up a hit in four of five games and reached base in each contest. He enters the weekend with a 17-game reached base streak, the longest streak of his career and the longest active streak for a Spartan.
 
Cincinnati: The lone Bearcat regular hitting above .300 on the year, first baseman Ryan Nicholson leads Cincinnati with a .327 batting average as he also leads the team in hits (17), extra-base hits (10), doubles (five), home runs (four), and slugging percentage (.692). He enters his team's game Wednesday at Winthrop sporting a team-long five-game hitting streak.
 
Princeton: Shortstop Eric Marasheski enters the Tigers' game Wednesday at Old Dominion leading the team with a .395 batting average, a total that ranks fourth in the Ivy League this season. He enters the contest on a seven-game hitting streak and leads the team with eight extra-base hits and six doubles on the year.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
At the conclusion of the team's nine-game homestand, the Spartans begin a stretch that sees five consecutive road contests. The stretch begins next Tuesday as Upstate travels to Queens (N.C.) for a midweek contest with first pitch set for 6 p.m. ET.
 
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!