David Pereira HR 3rd AB vs. Presbyterian Gm 1 2024
Ryan Frye
9
USC Upstate UPST 27-15
10
Winner Presbyterian PC 21-21
USC Upstate UPST
27-15
9
Final
10
Presbyterian PC
21-21
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 0 3 0 1 3 2 0 9 11 2
Presbyterian PC 1 0 0 0 5 1 0 3 X 10 12 1

W: MUELLER, K. (2-3) L: Cubbler, Jake (3-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Hitting Three Homers, Baseball Sets Program's Single-Season Home Run Mark in Back-and-Forth Slugfest with Presbyterian Friday

CLINTON, S.C. – Returning to action and Big South Conference play following a week's layoff coinciding with exam week, USC Upstate baseball engaged in a series-opening battle as the lead traded four times, including twice in the eighth inning, in a 10-9 setback Friday night versus Presbyterian at the PC Baseball Complex.
 
Scratching a run in the first, Presbyterian jumped out first behind a solo home run before Upstate battled its way back with a three-spot in the fourth spurred by a solo shot from redshirt junior rightfielder Koby Kropf. The Blue Hose jumped ahead again with a five-run fifth, but Upstate chipped away with a run in the sixth—subsequently answered by Presbyterian in the inning—and tied the game with a three-spot in the seventh, tying the game on a two-run homer from redshirt senior catcher David Pereira.
 
Retaking the advantage, the Spartans plated two runs in the eighth, doing so behind a leadoff homer from junior leftfielder Jace Rinehart and an RBI double from Kropf. Presbyterian, however, answered Upstate in the home half of the inning, plating three to create the one-run final margin, holding Upstate in the ninth to earn the victory.
 
Hitting a home run each, Kropf, Pereira, and Rinehart each recorded a multi-RBI game while Kropf, Pereira, redshirt sophomore designated hitter Noah Sullivan, and freshman third baseman Vance Sheahan each registered a multi-hit effort.
 
Game Information
Score: Presbyterian 10; USC Upstate 9
Records: USC Upstate (27-15; 12-4 Big South); Presbyterian (21-21; 11-5 Big South)
Location: PC Baseball Complex | Clinton, S.C.
 
How It Happened
  • B1: Presbyterian opened the game's scoring behind a solo homer to left off the bat of Joel Dragoo.
  • T4: Evening the game, Koby Kropf slugged a solo shot to left-center, knotting the contest at a run apiece. The Spartans added a pair of tallies on top of the solo homer behind RBI singles from Vance Sheahan and Noah Sullivan.
  • B5: Regaining the lead, the Blue Hose hung a five-spot on the board, staking a three-run advantage. An RBI single from Brody Fahr drove home the first tally before a pair of two-run singles, one from Noah Lebron and one from Jake Randolph completed the frame's scoring.
  • T6: Getting a run back, Jace Rinehart drove in his first tally of the night with on a sac fly to center, plating David Pereira.
  • B6: Answering the Spartan's run, Presbyterian added a tally behind a Jackson Hugus solo homer.
  • T7: Fighting its way back once again, Upstate tied the game behind a three-run seventh inning. The Spartans' first tally came via a wild pitch with runners on the corners before Pereira slammed a two-run long ball to left, tying the contest.
  • T8: Putting the Spartans on top again, Rinehart led off the eighth with a solo homer to left-center, his second RBI of the day. Adding another tally, Kropf picked up his second RBI of the evening with a double to right-center.
  • B8: Cutting the Upstate lead, Hugus plated a run with a groundout to first with the bases loaded, trimming the lead to one. Later in the inning, Jay Wetherington singled through the middle, driving home two to provide the winning margin for the Blue Hose.
 
Notable
  • Slugging three home runs Friday evening, USC Upstate recorded its 27th instance of hitting multiple home runs during the 2024 season. The team's latest instance pushed the team's home run total to 79 for the season, a new program record for team single-season home runs, breaking a tie with the 1987, 1988, and 1990 teams.
  • Hitting a two-run shot in the seventh inning Friday, David Pereira hit his seventh home run of the 2024 season and the 10th of his Upstate career, becoming the 15th Spartan to record double-digit career home runs. He becomes the seventh active Spartan to reach double-figure career home runs, joining Grant Sherrod (26), Troy Hamilton (22), Noah Sullivan (20), Jace Rinehart (18), Koby Kropf (14), and Daniel Gernon (12).
 
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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