Tuesday's Matchup
April 11, 2023 | 7:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (22-11; 8-1 Big South) vs. No. 3 South Carolina (28-4; 9-2 SEC)
Founders Park | Columbia, S.C.
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TV: SECN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
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Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | South Carolina
RHP
Caleb Costa (0-0; 5.79 ERA) | LHP Matthew Becker (2-0; 3.44 ERA)
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Series History
Meeting for the second time during the 2023 season, USC Upstate and South Carolina meet for the 16
th time in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) Tuesday. The Gamecocks took the season's earlier meeting on March 8 and lead the series 14-1. However, the Spartans' lone win in the series came during their last trip to Founders Park, a 9-6 victory in Columbia on May 10, 2022.
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Last Time Out
USC Upstate: vs. Longwood (
W, 18-2;
W, 2-0;
W, 5-4)
South Carolina: vs. No. 1 LSU (
W, 13-5;
L, 8-7)
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Players to Watch
Upstate: One of the Spartans' top hitters since the start of Big South play on March 10, sophomore centerfielder
Kyle Henington has posted a .353/.522/.441 three-slash line over the past 11 games. His .353 batting average is the second-highest average for a Spartan over the span as he's picked up 12 hits, including three doubles, and enters the midweek riding a nine-game reached base streak and a six-game hitting streak. Henington also leads Upstate in runs scored and free bases over the past 11 games, scoring 12 times and drawing nine walks and three HBP.
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South Carolina: The catalyst to South Carolina's victory over No. 1 LSU Thursday, outfielder Ethan Petrey hit multiple homers and drove home eight runs in the Gamecocks' 13-5 win. He enters the new week ranked second in the country in total RBI with 51, having recorded a multi-RBI game on 12 occasions this season. In addition to his team-leading RBI total, he carries a .442 batting average, a figure that ranks 12th in the NCAA while hitting 15 home runs on the season, tied for the team lead.
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Up Next for the Spartans
Staying on the road following Tuesday's midweek contest, the Spartans are on road for the second time in Big South play this weekend with a three-game set at UNC Asheville. The series opens Friday at 5 p.m. ET with game two set for Saturday at 3 p.m. and game three Sunday at 1 p.m.
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