SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Opening the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic with the first of two games against Bowling Green, USC Upstate baseball out-hit the Falcons in the event opener but were unable to back solid pitching in a 5-2 setback at Cleveland S. Harley Park as a four-run Falcon ninth sank the Spartans' bid for victory.
Making his second start of the season, sophomore right-handed pitcher
Cooper Ellingworth worked 5.0 innings of two-hit, one-run baseball, allowing six baserunners. He induced a double play and picked off a runner—his second of the season—while striking out a season-best six. In relief, redshirt sophomore righty
Max Bianchini struck out three over 3.0 innings of work before giving way to redshirt sophomore right-hander
Amp Phillips for 1.0 innings of work.
Upstate recorded nine hits Friday afternoon, seeing junior first baseman
Wylie Waters lead the way with a career-best three knocks, his second multi-hit effort of the year. Senior designated hitter
Johnny Sweeney reached base three times, slugging a solo homer in the sixth inning and drawing a pair of free bases (one walk and one HBP). The Spartans stole five bags off Bowling Green pitching with sophomore shortstop
Vance Sheahan stealing a career-high three bases and Sweeney and redshirt freshman rightfielder
Henry Zenor stealing a base apiece.
Game Information
Score: Bowling Green 5; USC Upstate 2
Records: USC Upstate (1-3; 0-0 Big South); Bowling Green (3-1; 0-0 MAC)
Location: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
How It Happened
- T4: Leading off the inning with a pair of hits, Bowling Green scratched the game's first run as the Spartans traded a run for two outs with runners on the corners. The Falcons' Garrett Wright came home as Upstate collected a twin killing.
- B4: Following a double steal to put a pair of runners in scoring position, Wylie Waters tied the game with an RBI groundout to short as Vance Sheahan—who stole a pair of bags in the inning—crossed the plate.
- B6: Putting the Spartans ahead, Johnny Sweeney led off the inning with a solo shot to right-center.
- T9: Scoring behind a pair of hits to start the inning, the Falcons tied the game with a Brady Birchmeier double into the left-center gap. Bowling Green went ahead for good with another extra-base hit later in the frame, doing so behind a three-run home run to leftfield from Cooper Mckenzie.
Notable
- Stealing five bases Friday, Upstate swiped its most bags in a single game since taking six against Radford on March 22, 2024. Vance Sheahan's three steals are the most by a Spartan in a single game since Easton Cullison nabbed three bags in the aforementioned March 22, 2024, contest against the Highlanders.
- Picking off another baserunner in his latest start, Cooper Ellingworth leads the Spartans with a pair of pickoffs this season. He tied for the team lead with two pickoffs last season as Upstate picked off 13 baserunners a year ago—11 from its pitching staff. Through four games in 2025, the Spartans tally four pickoffs, including two Friday.
Up Next for the Spartans
The OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic continues Saturday afternoon as Upstate welcomes Le Moyne to Cleveland S. Harley Park. First pitch in the inaugural meeting between the Spartans and Dolphins is set for 2 p.m. ET.
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