Dugout Celebration Post-Walk Off vs. Presbyterian Gm 2 2023
Lenny Mathis
7
Presbyterian PC 18-16, 9-11 BSC
9
Winner USC Upstate UPST 27-16, 13-4 BSC
Presbyterian PC
18-16, 9-11 BSC
7
Final
9
USC Upstate UPST
27-16, 13-4 BSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Presbyterian PC 1 0 0 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 7 12 0
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 1 0 2 9 14 1

W: Cubbler, Jake (3-0) L: DIGIACOMO, Fenix (3-4)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Daniel Gernon's Walk-Off Homer Caps Late-Inning Rally and Extra-Inning Win as Baseball Evens Series With Presbyterian

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Seeing its late-inning comeback attempt fall short Friday night, USC Upstate baseball remained resilient Saturday, battling its way back from a six-run deficit to even up its Big South weekend series as the Spartans tied the game with six runs in the final three innings before walking off Presbyterian with an extra-inning blast, taking a 9-6 victory in 10 innings at Cleveland S. Harley Park.
 
Over the first three innings, Upstate and Presbyterian played it close as the Blue Hose scored in the first and the Spartans in the third to exit the first third of the game tied at one. However, the momentum changed in the fourth as the Blue Hose scored one in the fourth before adding four in the fifth and one in the seventh to stake a 7-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans began their comeback as 11 batters came to the plate, leading to five runs to pull the game within one as the team collected six of its 14 hits in the inning. Tying the game, sophomore centerfielder Kyle Henington contorted his way under the tag of the Blue Hose catcher, scoring from second on a single to left, knotting the game at eight apiece.
 
Heading to extras, redshirt sophomore right-hander Jake Cubbler pitched a one, two, three 10th inning to pass the baton to the team's bats as Upstate sought its third extra-inning win of the year. With one out, sophomore third baseman Cole Caruso dropped a double down the rightfield line to set up the Spartan's second walk-off win of the year as redshirt junior rightfielder Daniel Gernon launched an 0-1 slider over the leftfield wall, securing Upstate's second walk-off of the season and first walk-off homer under head coach Mike McGuire (2020-pres.).
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 9; Presbyterian 7 [10]
Records: USC Upstate (27-16; 13-4 Big South); Presbyterian (18-26; 9-11 Big South)
Location: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Scoring Summary
  • T1: With the bases loaded, Dalton Reeves began the game's scoring as the Presbyterian catcher lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
  • B3: Hitting with two outs and a man on second, Troy Hamilton tied the game for Upstate as his single through the left-side plated Daniel Gernon from second.
  • T4: The Blue Hose broke the 1-1 stalemate as Ryan Ouzts doubled down the third base line to drive home the inning's lone run.
  • T5: Leading off the inning with four straight baserunners, Presbyterian extended its lead using a pair of two-run homers as Jack Gorman and Joel Dragoo each hit blasts for the Blue Hose.
  • T7: Building their six-run advantage, the Blue Hose added their seventh run of the afternoon as Jay Wetherington singled into rightfield.
  • B7: Authoring the first act of the team's comeback, Upstate sent 11 men to the plate, seeing eight reach, six pick up hits, and five score to pull within a run. David Pereira started the scoring with a single through the left side before Kyle Henington doubled down the first base line, plating two runs before the first out. The third run scored as Gernon dropped a single into center before Grant Sherrod ripped a single to right and Jace Rinehart drew a bases-loaded walk to wrap the five-run frame.
  • B8: Standing on second as Hamilton laced a single through the left side and into leftfield, Henington raced home and snuck his hand under the tag of the Blue Hose catcher, tying the game and setting up the Spartans' late-inning heroics.
  • B10: With one out and Cole Caruso standing on second following his double down the rightfield line, Daniel Gernon dropped an 0-1 slider over the wall in left, walking the game off with his seventh homer of the year.
 
Notable
  • Daniel Gernon's walk-off homer marks the first walk-off home run under head coach Mike McGuire (2020-pres.). Saturday's game marks the team's second walk-off win of the season after walking-off James Madison on March 10. The win also marks the team's third extra-inning win, joining the team's victories at High Point and at Western Carolina on March 26 and April 4, respectively.
  • With homers in each of the first two games of the Presbyterian series, Gernon becomes the third different Spartan to homer in back-to-back games this season. He joins Johnny Sweeney (Feb. 21-22 at North Florida) and Grant Sherrod (twice; March 24-25 at High Point & April 4 and April 6 at Western Carolina and versus Longwood).
  • Coming on out of the pen and throwing 4.0 innings for the Spartans to set up the comeback, Chase Matheny struck out a career-high six batters. Saturday's game stands as his fifth career game with five or more punchouts and his third such game this season.
  • Earning the win after throwing the ninth and 10th innings for Upstate, Jake Cubbler improved to 3-0 on the season with four saves to his credit. He has earned the win in both of the Spartans' extra-inning conference victories, also earning the win against High Point on March 26.
 
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