Weekend Series presented by Jimmy John's
March 31-April 2, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. / 1:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (16-10; 3-0 Big South) vs. Winthrop (12-14; 2-4 Big South)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Winthrop
Game One: RHP Reese Dutton (3-2; 3.09 ERA) | RHP Alex Logusch (0-2; 8.31 ERA)
Game Two: LHP Henry Proger (3-3; 4.46 ERA) | RHP Dyson Johnson (1-3; 6.75 ERA)
Game Three: RHP Chase Matheny (1-2; 6.16 ERA) | RHP Brody Hopkins (0-4; 8.84 ERA)
 
Series History
With this weekend's series, USC Upstate and Winthrop are meeting for the third time in a weekend series since Upstate joined the Big South ahead of the 2018-19 academic year, last meeting for a three-game set in 2021. The Spartans and Eagles have split 12 games during the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) with the Eagles taking four of the last five meetings, including winning both series contested as Big South foes.
 
Last Time Out
March 28, 2023: Elon 14; USC Upstate 1
March 28, 2023: Winthrop 8; Queens 4
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate:
Pitcher: Earning his third victory of the season, junior left-hander Henry Proger set the tone for the Spartans in a 4-2 victory over High Point last Saturday, tossing a career-high 7.1 innings in the win. He scattered five hits and seven baserunners with the five runners that reached base—two of his surrendered hits were solo homers—none moved past second base or stayed on base longer than an out. He struck out five, improving his season strikeout total to 30 as he's struck out five or more hitters in three of his six starts.
 
Position Player: Picking up his seventh multi-hit game of the season Tuesday at Elon, redshirt junior first baseman Grant Sherrod extended his reached base streak to 12 games—the longest active streak for a Spartan. He's collected a hit in 11 of the 12 games during his streak, including each of the last four games, as he's hitting .344 on the year while slugging .633. To start league play last weekend, he drove home a career-high five runs behind a career-best four hits last Friday, leading to a 15-2 Upstate victory over High Point.
 
Winthrop:
Pitcher: Tied for the team lead with 13 appearances this season, right-hander Josh Bookbinder leads Winthrop with 30.2 innings pitched on the season, going longer than 3.0 innings out of the bullpen in six of his 13 appearances. He's accrued a 5-0 record and 4.40 earned run average on the season and has earned a win in each of his last two appearances, including Tuesday at Queens.
 
Position Player: Hitting .321 on the season, outfielder McKinley Erves leads Winthrop in batting average while also leading the team in walks and runs scored. He enters the weekend with a hit in five straight games, scoring a run in four of those five games while driving home a run in three of the five. His best game of the year came against Campbell on March 18 as he finished 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Off the team's home-opening Big South weekend series, Upstate breaks up its stretch of consecutive home weekend series with a midweek at Western Carolina. The Spartans and Catamounts tangle Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. ET in Cullowhee, N.C.
 
At The Ballpark This Weekend
The weather looks to cooperate for the most part this weekend as we host Winthrop in a 3-game series presented by Jimmy John's. Be sure to visit the Jimmy John's tent at Harley Park this weekend! Thanks to our partners at Budweiser of Spartanburg and Sodexo, fans 21+ can enjoy a selection of Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Truly, and Rockers Brewing at the concession stand. #EnjoyResponsibly
 
For the kids, "Sparty's Sandlot" makes its debut on Friday, as the kids can enjoy Wiffleball in the grass area behind the grandstand of Harley Park. On Sunday, the first 25 kids ages 12 and under score an Upstate logo stress ball as well.
 
Stop by our Ingles Services area and register to win a free pizza from Papa John's, a $10 gift card from Wades, and a free t-shirt from CJ Compton Plumbing along with other Upstate swag. Should the Spartans hit a homer in the 3rd inning, 14 fans will win a free pizza from Pi Squared Pizza in Drayton Mill (3-14…get it?) and all fans win a free deli sandwich from Ingles if the Spartans hit the (somewhat elusive) bullseye on the left field wall. 
 
This season the Ingles K's for Kids program returns and Ingles will donate $1 for everyone Upstate pitching strikeouts (currently 228K's) to a local charity on behalf of the Spartan baseball program. This year's recipient, Kids Clubs of the Upstate, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Friday.
 
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!