RADFORD, Va. – Entering the day with another opportunity to win a Big South Conference series, USC Upstate baseball fell short in Sunday's rubber match versus Radford, falling 12-3 to the Highlanders at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium.
 
Offensively, the Spartans recorded five total hits—tied for the fewest in a game by the team this season—but three of the five hits went for extra bases. Junior leftfielder Jace Rinehart and junior first baseman Johnny Sweeney each homered, their eighth and first of the season, while junior centerfielder Kyle Henington doubled, collecting the extra-base hits for Upstate.
 
Game Information
Score: Radford 12; USC Upstate 3
Records: USC Upstate (15-10; 4-2 Big South); Radford (9-13; 2-1 Big South)
Location: Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium | Radford, Va.
 
How It Happened

• B1: After advancing to third on an error following a single into left just out of the reach of a leaping Troy Hamilton, Radford plated its first run on a Zack Whitacre groundout to short.
• B2: For the second straight inning, the Highlanders pushed across a run using a groundout as Corbin Grantham picked up the RBI with a pair of runners in scoring position.
• B3: Adding to its lead, Radford tacked on three tallies in the third behind three consecutive one-out hits. A double from Connor Butler drove home the first run before a two-run homer from Carson Bell added the additional tallies in the three-run frame.
• T4: Providing an answer to the Highlander's multi-run inning, Upstate responded with two of its own in the next half inning. After Grant Sherrod broke up the no-hitter by nestling a single down the rightfield line, Jace Rinehart busted up the shutout with a no-doubt blast to left.
• B6: Following a leadoff walk and sacrifice bunt, Radford got one of its runs back as Cameron Pittman doubled into the rightfield corner to score the runner from second.
• B7: The Highlanders scored five runs in the seventh to expand upon their lead, doing so behind a pair of homers from Cameron Pittman and Mason Self.
• T8: Getting a run back, Johnny Sweeney hit an opposite-field homer to left.
• B8: Pushing the lead back to nine, Self hit his second homer of the day for the Highlanders, a solo shot.

 
Notable

• Dropping the series finale Sunday, Upstate dropped its first Big South Conference series since April 14-16, 2023, a 2-1 series loss at UNC Asheville.
• With his two-run shot in the fifth inning, Jace Rinehart became the second Spartan in 2024 with eight or more home runs, hitting his eighth of the season. His season total marks the 11^th time a Spartan has hit eight or more home runs in a single season.
• Coming on in the eighth inning, Beau Coffman became the 12^th Spartan to make his USC Upstate debut.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
After going on the road for the first time during Big South play, Upstate returns home to Cleveland S. Harley Park to begin a four-game homestand. The Spartans host Elon in a midweek contest Tuesday with first pitch set for 4 p.m. ET.
 
Tickets on Sale for Sparty's Ball – Saturday, May 18
Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund. The UAF impacts current and future generations of Spartans, developing champions on the field, building scholars in the classroom, and preparing leaders for life. Presented by the Sports Medicine Institute, a division of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Sparty's Ball features live and silent auction items, delicious food from Cribbs Catering, beverages, and live entertainment from Under the Sun, and held at a new location, Indigo Hall in downtown Spartanburg. Come dressed in your Spartan best—cocktail attire is required. For details and tickets, log onto www.upstatespartans.com/spartysball.

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