SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following a week break due to finals week, USC Upstate baseball returned to action Friday afternoon at Cleveland S. Harley Park looking to build upon the program's best start to conference play during the Division I era (2007-pres.), however, the Spartans late comeback attempt couldn't overcome an early outburst from Presbyterian in a 10-6 setback.
 
The Spartans struck first with two runs in the second on redshirt junior rightfielder Daniel Gernon's sixth home run of the year, a two-run blast to left-center. Answering quickly, the Blue Hose got back both of the surrendered runs before building its lead with a go-ahead grand slam to provide the game's cushion. Presbyterian built up its lead with two runs in each the fifth and eighth while Upstate offered a comeback attempt with a run in the sixth on a solo shot from redshirt junior first baseman Grant Sherrod, his 10^th homer of the year, and three in the eighth.
 
Adding to the home runs from Gernon and Sherrod, sophomore third baseman Cole Caruso and redshirt junior shortstop Troy Hamilton each picked up a pair of hits with Caruso reaching base three times on the night. With the lone multi-RBI game for the Spartans, Gernon drove home three, plating runs with a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.
 
Game Information
Score: Presbyterian 10; USC Upstate 6
Records: USC Upstate (26-16; 12-4 Big South); Presbyterian (18-25; 9-10 Big South)
Location: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Scoring Summary

• B2: Following up a leadoff walk, Daniel Gernon launched a two-run homer to left-centerfield, opening the game's scoring for Upstate.
• T3: Loading the bases with two outs, Presbyterian used a pair of infield singles to push across two runs and tie the game. Taking the lead, Dalton Reeves broke the tie with a grand slam to right.
• T5: Putting two men in scoring position with a pair of hits to open the inning, the Blue Hose added a pair of runs with a sac fly and RBI single, coming from Joel Dragoo and Reeves, respectively.
• B6: Getting back a run, Grant Sherrod crushed a 2-0 pitch to dead center as he hit a solo shot off the top of the batter's eye.
• T8: Adding additional runs to its lead, Presbyterian scored a pair of runs behind a throwing error on a stolen base attempt and a double off the wall in right form Jay Wetherington.
• B8: Stringing together four runners to open the inning, Upstate used a pair of singles through the right side from Jace Rinehart and Easton Cullison to drive home two runs. The final run of the game scored via a sacrifice fly from Gernon.

 
Notable

• Hitting his 10^th home run of the season Friday, Grant Sherrod becomes the third Spartan in the Division I era (2017-pres.) with a double-digit homer season and the first since 2017. He sits a homer shy of tying the D1 era record for single-season home runs, a mark held by Charlie Carpenter who hit 11 homers in 2017.
• With a sacrifice fly from Daniel Gernon in the eighth inning, Upstate upped its season sacrifice fly total to 33. With their 33^rd sac fly of the year, the Spartans tied Rutgers for the nation's lead in the category.
• Tossing 2.0 innings of one-hit baseball, David James has thrown back-to-back scoreless outings for the Spartans. Over the two outings, he's pitched 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball, the longest streak of his career.

 
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