Noah Sullivan Third Inning vs. Gardner-Webb Gm 1 2024
Emily Rangel
5
Winner USC UPSTATE UPST 19-12
2
WINTHROP WINTHROP 12-15-1
Winner
USC UPSTATE UPST
19-12
5
Final
2
WINTHROP WINTHROP
12-15-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
USC UPSTATE UPST 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 5 6 1
WINTHROP WINTHROP 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 1

W: Sullivan, Noah (7-1) L: HUGE, R. (4-3) S: Cubbler, Jake (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Noah Sullivan Backs Himself With Three RBI, Earning League-Leading Seventh Victory in 5-2 Win at Winthrop

ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the third time in as many Big South Conference games, USC Upstate baseball found itself making a comeback in the sixth inning or later as the Spartans' stormed back from an early two-run deficit to take the series opener Winthrop behind of score of 5-2 to push the team's conference winning streak to four Friday night at the Winthrop Ballpark.
 
Despite giving up a pair of runs off a two-run homer in the third, redshirt sophomore right-hander Noah Sullivan battled all evening as he turned in his fourth quality start of the season, earning his league-high seventh victory. He scattered seven baserunners throughout his outing as he struck out three while surrendering just two runs, one of which was earned.
 
Helping himself at the plate, Sullivan delivered Upstate the lead as he split the left-center gap with a bases-clearing double to bust open a 2-2 tie in the seventh. Spending much of the inning with the bases loaded until Sullivan's double, the Spartans battled back to tie the game in the frame as redshirt senior first baseman Grant Sherrod worked a walk with the bases loaded before junior leftfielder Jace Rinehart dumped a single just inside the rightfield line to tie the game.
 
Taking the ball to begin the home half of the seventh, redshirt junior righty Jake Cubbler worked the final three innings as he nailed down his second save of the season, tossing three innings and allowing just one baserunner while striking out five.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 5; Winthrop 4
Records: USC Upstate (19-12; 8-2 Big South); Winthrop (12-15-1; 4-3 Big South)
Location: The Winthrop Ballpark | Rock Hill, S.C.
 
How It Happened
  • B3: Stepping to the plate after Abe Affholter reached on an error in centerfield, Charlie Evans put Winthrop on the board with a two-run homer to left.
  • T7: Spending much of the inning with the bases loaded thanks to an Eagle error and a pair of walks, the Spartans hung a five-spot on the board to take the lead. A walk with the bags juiced to Grant Sherrod pushed across the first tally for Upstate before a single dropped down the rightfield line by Jace Rinehart tied the game. Clearing the bases, Noah Sullivan helped himself with a bases-clearing double, driving home three and putting the Spartans out front.
 
Notable
  • Earning his seventh victory of the 2024 season Friday, Noah Sullivan became the eighth Spartan in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) to earn seven or more wins in a single season. He's the sixth to do so under the direction of head coach Mike McGuire (2020-pres.) and the fourth under the direction of pitching coach Jacob Condra-Bogan (2022-pres.).
  • Recording three RBI against Winthrop, Friday's game marked the fourth this season that Sullivan has recorded multiple runs batted in to back his performance on the mound. The game stands as the third time this season he's driven in three runs in a game in which he starts on the mound in 2024.
  • Collecting five strikeouts en route to his save Friday against the Eagles, Jake Cubbler registered his fifth game of the season with five or more strikeouts, the most by a Spartan pitcher this season. His five-strikeout performance versus Winthrop marks his fourth relief appearance of the year with five-plus punchouts.
 
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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