ATHENS, Ga. – On the road against a non-conference foe for the first time in the team's season-long eight-game road swing and competing in the team's penultimate midweek contest, USC Upstate baseball hung with Georgia, taking a lead into the middle of the fifth before succumbing to a big inning in a 9-2 setback Wednesday evening.
 
Despite seeing the Bulldogs scratch a run in the first, the Spartans remained resilient, tying the game on a leadoff homer from sophomore catcher Jace Rinehart in the second. Upstate took the lead in the top of the fifth as redshirt freshman Jake Armsey lifted a ball to deep left, resulting in a sac fly as junior second baseman Easton Cullison raced home to score after stealing second—his 21^st stolen base of the season—and advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt.
 
Georgia, however, used a lengthy bottom of the fifth to retake the lead and create its final advantage, scoring eight runs in the frame. Recording the final out of the fifth, sophomore right-hander Trent Hodgdon settled the Spartan pitching staff, tossing a perfect sixth while striking out two before handing the ball to fellow sophomore righty Julian Parson who pitched a perfect seventh and eighth, striking out four, including the side in the seventh.
 
Game Information
Score: Georgia 9; USC Upstate 2
Records: USC Upstate (32-17; 17-4 Big South); Georgia (28-21; 10-14 SEC)
Location: Foley Field | Athens, Ga.
 
Scoring Summary

• B1: Taking advantage of a fielding error and a balk to put two runners into scoring position, Georgia staked an early one-run advantage as Cole Wagner ground out to the right side to bring home a run.
• T2: Providing an immediate answer to the Bulldogs' run, a leadoff solo shot from Jace Rinehart to the left of the scoreboard in right-center tied the game at one.
• T5: Leading off the inning with a single, stealing second, and advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt, Easton Cullison scored as Jake Armsey lifted a sac fly to deep left.
• B5: Seeing four Spartan pitchers and benefitting from four walks, a passed ball, and a balk while scattering six hits, Georgia posted eight runs on the scoreboard in the inning, creating a seven-run advantage and the game's final margin.

 
Notable

• Swiping second in the fifth inning, Easton Cullison notched his 21^st stolen base of the season, tying the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) for single-season steals. He became the second Spartan in the D1 era to steal 20 bags in a season last Sunday at Gardner-Webb while his steal Wednesday at Georgia ties Noah Myers (21 steals in 2022) for the D1 era single-season record.
• Hitting his fifth homer of the season Wednesday evening, Jace Rinehart has homered in back-to-back games for the first time in his career becoming the fourth Spartan this season to homer in consecutive games. He joins Johnny Sweeney (Feb. 21-22 at North Florida), Daniel Gernon (April 28-29 vs. Presbyterian), and Grant Sherrod (thrice; March 24-25 at High Point; April 4 and April 6 at Western Carolina and vs. Longwood; & April 30, May 3, and May 5 vs. Presbyterian, vs. Queens, and at Gardner-Webb).
• Coming out of the bullpen and striking out four of the six batters he faced, Julian Parson tied his career-high for strikeouts. He equaled his strikeout total from May 14, 2022, when he struck out four UNC Asheville Bulldogs.

 
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