Grant Sherrod 1st AB vs. Clemson Gm 2 2024
Emma Hudson
13
Winner USC UPSTATE UPST 20-12
10
WINTHROP WINTHROP 12-16-1
Winner
USC UPSTATE UPST
20-12
13
Final
10
WINTHROP WINTHROP
12-16-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
USC UPSTATE UPST 1 1 1 0 4 3 0 0 3 13 16 3
WINTHROP WINTHROP 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 7 10 9 1

W: Proger, Henry (5-2) L: LUMPKIN, R. (2-5)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Three-RBI Nights From Grant Sherrod and Koby Kropf Back Strong Start from Henry Proger as Baseball Earns Victory on ESPNU over Winthrop

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Making a return appearance to ESPNU for the second straight season in the Big South Conference's first regular season appearance on the network since 2015, USC Upstate baseball outlasted a late rally from Winthrop, earning a series victory behind a 13-10 win Saturday evening at The Winthrop Ballpark.
 
The Spartans jumped out front in the first and wouldn't trail the remainder of the night, scoring 10 unanswered runs to begin the game, leading 10-0 heading into the home half of the sixth. The Eagles plated three runs across the sixth and seventh before Upstate got its runs back with three in the top of the ninth. Winthrop attempted a comeback as it plated seven runs in their final plate appearances before falling short as the Spartans shut the door.
 
Senior left-hander Henry Proger stymied the Eagles through 6.0 complete innings, earning his third quality start of the season as he allowed two runs—one earned—while scattering nine baserunners and finishing with four strikeouts.
 
Backing the quality start from Proger, redshirt senior first baseman Grant Sherrod and redshirt junior rightfielder Koby Kropf each drove home three RBI's to pace the offense. Sherrod finished the day with four hits while redshirt senior shortstop Troy Hamilton added three hits, rounding out the group of Spartans with three or more hits as five players ended the night with multiple hits.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 13; Winthrop 10
Records: USC Upstate (20-12; 9-2 Big South); Winthrop (12-16-1; 4-4 Big South)
Location: The Winthrop Ballpark | Rock Hill, S.C.
 
How It Happened
  • T1: Putting Upstate on the board, Grant Sherrod left the yard to the opposite field with a two-out solo homer to right.
  • T2: Taking advantage of three consecutive two-out singles, the Spartans hung another run on the board as a hit-and-run with runners on the corner to score a second tally. Vance Sheahan snuck the ball through the six-hole, scoring Tyler Lang.
  • T3: Continuing the streak of half innings scoring a run, Troy Hamilton slugged a no-doubter to leftfield to open the third frame.
  • T5: Opening things up and getting back on board after a half-inning away, Upstate tacked on four runs in the frame. The Spartans scored three runs without a hit, scoring on a wild pitch, passed ball, and error with Koby Kropf recording the lone RBI with a single through the right side.
  • T6: Posting another multi-run inning, adding three runs to its tally behind a pair of RBI singles, the first from Jace Rinehart through the left side before Kropf added two runs batted in as he went back through the box against a drawn-in infield.
  • B6: Answering the Upstate runs in the prior half-inning, Winthrop put itself on the board with a pair of runs, coming home on a groundout and behind a double from Harrison Wilson.
  • B7: String runs together in consecutive innings, the Eagles added another run with a solo homer from Abe Affholter.
  • T9: Getting its three surrendered runs back, the Spartans plate three in their final trip to the plate. Kyle Henington drove home the first with a single into right-center before Sherrod drove in a pair as he bounded a ball over the drawn-in infield.
  • B9: Attempting a comeback, Winthrop tallied seven runs in its final trip to the plate with the biggest runs coming off a grand slam from Wilson.
 
Notable
  • With solo home runs from Grant Sherrod and Troy Hamilton, Upstate recorded its 21st game of the season with multiple home runs. The Spartans have only had 11 games in 2024 without multi-homers and have hit 60 total home runs in 32 games.
  • Hitting his 10th home run of the season, Sherrod becomes the first Spartan in the Division I era (2007-pres.) to hit 10 or more homers in multiple seasons. His 10 home runs and counting season in 2024 follows his D1-era record 15 homers from a season ago.
  • Earning the victory Saturday, Upstate won its first game played on ESPNU. The Spartans have played on the network in consecutive seasons after seeing last season's Big South Baseball Championship game played on the network.
 
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
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
Print Friendly Version