SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following the team's first foray into a weekend series away from Cleveland S. Harley Park, USC Upstate baseball returns home to begin a four-game homestand as it welcomes Elon to Spartanburg for a midweek contest. The game marks the second in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) against the Phoenix as the two programs met last season at Elon.
Tuesday's Matchup
March 26, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (15-10; 4-2 Big South) vs. Elon (9-14; 0-3 CAA)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
How They Stack Up
Records: USC upstate (15-10; 4-2 Big South); Elon (9-14; 0-0 CAA)
Series: Elon leads 1-0
Last Five Meetings: March 28, 2023 (ELON 14; UPST 1)
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Elon
RHP
Darin Kuskie (0-1; 9.24 ERA) | RHP Nolan Straniero (0-1; 10.43 ERA)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Capping his historic day with a home run, redshirt senior
Grant Sherrod collected the first six-hit game in program history as he finished the series opener at Radford by going 6-for-6 with six RBI. His long ball also marked the 23
rd of his Upstate career, tying him with Charlie Carpenter for the program's D1 era career record. He enters the midweek as the leading run producer in the Big South, ranking seventh in the NCAA with 37 RBI.
Elon: Backing himself on the mound with a homer and multi-RBI game as part of a 2-for-3 day, sophomore infielder Ryan Sprock upped his team-leading RBI total to 27 for the Phoenix in the series finale at UNC Wilmington. He ranks fourth in the CAA in total RBI enter the week as he's posted a three-slash line of .344/.422/.548 behind 32 hits, seven doubles, and four home runs.
Up Next for the Spartans
Continuing the four-game homestand, Upstate welcomes UNC Asheville to Cleveland S. Harley Park for the first baseball meeting of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series. The three-game set begins Thursday with a 5 p.m. ET first pitch before continuing Friday (5 p.m.) and concluding Saturday (2 p.m.).
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.
Connect with the Spartans
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