SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Beginning a new campaign looking to build upon the program's success over the past three seasons (110 total wins), USC Upstate baseball opens the 22
nd straight season at home—the 21
st straight season at Cleveland S. Harley Park since its dedication in 2004—as it hosts a 2023 NCAA Super Regional team in nationally ranked Kentucky. Hosting the Wildcats, the Spartans host a Southeastern Conference foe at Harley Park for the first time since 2018 when the same Wildcats came to Spartanburg.
Opening Weekend presented by Four Points Sheraton
February 16-18, 2024 | 3:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m / 1:00 p.m ET
USC Upstate (38-22; 21-6 Big South in 2023) vs. Kentucky (40-21; 16-14 SEC in 2023)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App (Friday & Sunday Only)
Radio: Fox Sports Spartanburg 98.3 FM/1400 AM | Also available via the Fox Sports Spartanburg or TuneIn App (Friday & Sunday Only)
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (38-22; 21-6 Big South in 2023); Kentucky (40-21; 16-14 SEC in 2023)
Series: Kentucky leads 7-1
Last Five Meetings: Feb. 17, 2018 (UK 10; UPST 3); Feb. 17, 2018 (UK 6; UPST 5 [10 inn.]); March 13, 2016 (UK 3; UPST 1); March 12, 2016 (UK 3; UPST 0); March 11, 2016 (UK 5; UPST 3)
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Kentucky
Game One: RHP
Noah Sullivan (1-0; 0.00 ERA in 2023) | RHP Travis Smith (4-3; 4.84 ERA in 2023)
Game Two: RHP
Mathieu Curtis (7-2; 5.66 ERA in 2023) | LHP Dominic Niman (12-2; 2.77 ERA in 2023 at Central Connecticut State)
Game Three: LHP
Henry Proger (7-5; 4.17 ERA in 2023) | RHP Mason Moore (4-1; 1.80 ERA in 2023)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate:
Pitcher: Taking the ball Friday afternoon, redshirt sophomore right-hander
Noah Sullivan makes his sixth career, returning to the Spartans' rotation for the first time since the 2022 season, a season that culminated with Sullivan earning Big South Freshman of the Year honors and selection as a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. He enters the 2024 season sporting a 7-0 record and 2.40 ERA over 15 career appearances while holding opponents to a .166 batting average. In his five career starts, he owns a 3-0 record with two quality starts.
Position Player: Earning a spot on D1Baseball's Preseason Top 50 First Basemen list, redshirt senior first baseman
Grant Sherrod returns following a record-breaking season in 2023, ending the year holding the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) records for games played (60), home runs (15), RBI (66), total bases (140), and slugging percentage (.625). He earned First Team All-Big South accolades last season as he posted a three-slash line of .335/.429/.625, collecting 75 hits, 66 RB, and 47 runs while stealing eight bases in nine attempts.
Kentucky:
Pitcher: A graduate transfer from Central Connecticut State, left-hander Dominic Niman makes his first start in a Kentucky uniform Saturday in his 50
th collegiate outing. He joins the Wildcats as a two-outlet All-American in 2023 when he went 12-2 with a 2.77 ERA over 104.0 innings of work as he helped the Blue Devils to the NCAA Tournament. He enters the new season with a 3.25 career ERA.
Position Player: Returning behind the plate for the Wildcats, redshirt junior catcher Devin Burkes garnered Preseason Second Team All-Southeastern Conference selection entering the 2024 season. He finished the 2023 season hitting .291 over 61 games as he led Kentucky with 18 doubles while also adding nine home runs, 65 hits, 55 runs scored, and 53 RBI. He also ranks as one of D1Baseball's Preseason Top 50 catchers, earning a spot in the top 10, entering the new campaign.
Up Next for the Spartans
Following the season's opening weekend, Upstate gets its first taste of midweek action as it continues its season-opening homestand Wednesday afternoon. The Spartans host Western Carolina in the team's first midweek contest with first pitch set for 3 p.m. ET.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans
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