Tuesday's Matchup
April 18, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (23-14; 9-3 Big South) vs. Western Carolina (14-20; 4-7 SoCon)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Western Carolina
RHP Caleb Costa (0-1; 6.75 ERA) | LHP Ryan White (1-0; 4.91 ERA)
 
Series History
Entering Tuesday's game, USC Upstate and Western Carolina have met four times in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) with each meeting coming under head coach Mike McGuire (2020-pres.). The two teams split a pair of games last season with each winning on its home field, but the Spartans tied the series at two wins apiece earlier this month, taking a 13-inning midweek game on April 4 with a 9-8 win.
 
Last Time Out
USC Upstate: vs. UNC Asheville (W, 10-4; L, 9-4; L, 10-7)
Western Carolina: vs. Wofford (L, 12-5; W, 10-9; L, 17-6 [7 inn.])
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Fashioning his second double-digit reached base streak of the season, sophomore third baseman Cole Caruso enters the midweek on an 11-game reached base streak while also holding a five-game hitting streak. Over the stretch, he's picked up five multi-hit games, giving him a team-lead-tying 13 on the season, and has reached base multiple times in eight of the 11 games comprising his streak. He's upped his batting average to .311 following the weekend series at UNC Asheville and leads the Spartans with a .434 on-base percentage.
 
Western Carolina: Holding a 21-game reached base streak and seven-game hitting streak, second baseman Brandon Butterworth has been a key for Western Carolina over the past several weeks. He's crafted a pair of three-hit games during his hitting streak as his average sits at .280 heading into the midweek. He also ranks second in the SoCon in total triples with four this season.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Following Tuesday's midweek game against Western Carolina that begins an eight-game homestand for Upstate, the Spartans return for a three-game weekend series at Cleveland S. Harley Park Friday. Upstate hosts Radford in the three-game Big South set with game times set for 5 p.m. ET Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans 
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