SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Taking the field after a day's break due to inclement weather, USC Upstate baseball continued its three-game weekend against Princeton with the Spartans and Tigers trading the lead on multiple occasions before Princeton pulled away late for a 7-4 victory.
 
Despite giving up a pair of runs in the top of the first, Upstate answered quickly, regaining the lead with three runs in the home half of the frame. Princeton tied the game with a run in the third before the Spartans retook the advantage with a run in the fifth. However, the Tigers scored two runs in the sixth to take the lead for good, adding a pair of insurance runs in the ninth.
 
At the plate, a pair of Spartans, redshirt junior shortstop Troy Hamilton and junior second baseman Easton Cullison, recorded multi-hit efforts while Cullison added a pair of RBI, adding a multi-RBI effort Saturday. For Cullison, the multi-hit game marks his fourth multi-hit game of the season, recording a multi-hit game in four of the last five games.
 
Game Information
Score: Princeton 7; USC Upstate 4
Records: USC Upstate (11-9; 0-0 Big South); Princeton (5-10; 0-0 Ivy League)
Location: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Scoring Summary

• T1: Seeing three straight batters reach base with one out in the inning, Princeton scored a pair of runs using an RBI single through the right side and a groundout to short.
• B1: Answering the two-spot in the top of the inning, Upstate took advantage of free bases and timely hits to score three runs. A hit-by-pitch, single, and walk from the top three hitters in the order loaded the bases before a pair of bases-loaded walks to Grant Sherrod and Noah Rabon tied the game. The final run came in to score as Easton Cullison slapped a single the other way into left.
• T3: The Tigers tied the game as Matt Scannell hit a solo home run to right.
• B5: Advancing to third following an HBP, stolen base, and a wild pitch, Daniel Gernon raced home to score as Cullison drove home another run with a single into center.
• T6: Scoring a pair of runs in a similar fashion to how it scored two runs in the first inning, Princeton used an RBI single and a groundout to score its two runs and retake the lead.
• T9: Opening the inning with consecutive doubles, the second from Carlos Abello driving home an insurance run for the Tigers. Later in the inning, the game's final run came in on a fielder's choice.

 
Notable

• Picking up a pair of hits, Easton Cullison recorded his fourth multi-hit game, doing so in four of the last five games. His hits extended his hitting streak to seven games, the longest for a Spartan this season and the longest of his career.
• Reaching base three times apiece, Cole Caruso and Daniel Gernon extended their reached base streaks to 19 and 18 games, respectively. The streaks mark career-longs for both players.
• Striking out eight batters against Princeton, Henry Proger tied his career-high for strikeouts, matching his strikeout total from his USC Upstate debut against Towson on Feb. 19. He's the first Spartan pitcher in 2023 to record multiple games with eight or more strikeouts.

 
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
 
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