Weekend Series
April 6-8, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. / 5:30 p.m. / 12:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (19-11; 5-1 Big South) vs. Longwood (13-19; 4-5 Big South)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Longwood
Game One: RHP Reese Dutton (4-2; 2.93 ERA) | RHP Andrew Potojecki (2-2; 2.70 ERA)
Game Two: RHP Mathieu Curtis (3-2; 7.90 ERA) | RHP Logan Berrier (1-2; 3.97 ERA)
Game Three: LHP Henry Proger (4-3; 4.02 ERA) | RHP Ryan Miller (5.28 ERA)
 
Series History
In a series that began with a single game in 2017 and has continued with a weekend series in each full season since 2018, USC Upstate and Longwood are meeting for the 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th times in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). After sweeping last season's series at Longwood, the Spartans have taken nine straight games and own an 11-1 advantage in the series. The Lancers' lone win in the series came in the finale of the 2018 weekend series with Upstate winning each of the nine meetings as Big South foes between the two programs.
 
Last Time Out
April 4, 2023: USC Upstate 9; Western Carolina 8 [10 inn.]
April 4, 2023: Longwood 14; Norfolk State 3
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate:
Pitcher: Authoring his longest career outing in a Spartan uniform last Friday against Winthrop, redshirt junior right-hander Reese Dutton set the tone for a series victory as he earned his fourth win of the year behind an 8.0 inning, nine-strikeout performance. The game marked his second of the season with nine or more punchouts as he enters the weekend ranked fourth in the Big South in total strikeouts with 50. Dutton also enters the series with Longwood ranked third in the conference in earned run average, sporting a 2.93 ERA while he also leads the Big South with a 1.00 WHIP.
 
Position Player: Picking up four hits and two RBI, including the go-ahead, game-winning RBI in the 13^th inning Tuesday at Western Carolina, redshirt junior leftfielder Noah Rabon led the Spartans to a midweek victory. In the game, he also stole a pair of bags for the Spartans, his third two-steal game over the past four contests, increasing his season total to 16 on the year—ranking second in the Big South. He's stolen double-digit bags in back-to-back seasons, becoming the only player under head coach Mike McGuire to post multiple 10-plus steal seasons.
 
Longwood:
Pitcher: Opposing Dutton on the mound in Thursday's series opener, right-hander Andrew Potojecki enters the contest as one of two players ranked ahead of Dutton in earned run average in the league, sporting a 2.70 ERA. He's done by pitching 36.2 innings over seven starts and enters the weekend off his shortest start of the season, allowing four earned runs against High Point in an inning of work.
 
Position Player: With 45 hits on the season, third baseman Eliot Dix enters the weekend series leading the Big South in hits as he owns 14 multi-hit efforts this season. He's hitting .369 on the year with 15 of his hits going for extra bases, including 11 doubles, a total that ranks second in the Big South. Dix also enters the weekend with a .443 on-base percentage, the best for a Lancer this season.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Following its streak of six of seven straight games at Cleveland S. Harley Park, the Spartans begin a four-game road swing Tuesday. Upstate heads to Columbia for a rematch with the Gamecocks of South Carolina with game time set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
 
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!