Preston Lucas Hitting vs. UMass Lowell Gm3 2025
Emma Hudson
4
UMass Lowell UML 3-6
12
Winner USC Upstate UPST 6-4
UMass Lowell UML
3-6
4
Final
12
USC Upstate UPST
6-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UMass Lowell UML 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 11 2
USC Upstate UPST 1 1 3 0 0 1 3 3 X 12 16 1

W: Torres, Chris (2-0) L: Kevin Zarnoch Jr. (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Puts Up Another Double-Digit Run Total, Backing Solid Pitching in 12-4 Series-Clinching Victory Sunday Versus UMass Lowell

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Playing a rubber match for the first time in a traditional three-game weekend series, USC Upstate baseball picked up its first series win of the season behind a 12-4 victory Sunday over UMass Lowell at Cleveland S. Harley Park. The Spartans' offense continued its hot streak, adding a fourth straight game with 16-plus hits, running the weekly hit total to 72 in four games, the highest total in a four-game stretch in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.).
 
For the third time in four games, all nine Upstate starters recorded a hit with five starters registering a multi-hit effort. Junior rightfielder Wylie Waters and redshirt freshman centerfielder Henry Zenor paced the Spartan offense, tying their career-highs for the second consecutive contest with three hits apiece. Driving home a career-best four RBI, junior catcher Preston Lucas headed the team's run production with redshirt junior third baseman Jake Armsey and redshirt junior second baseman Alex Ritzer collecting a pair of RBI each.
 
Taking the ball with a chance to pitch Upstate to a series victory, sophomore left-handed pitcher Chris Torres earned his second straight win behind a second consecutive quality start, tossing 6.0 innings while scattering nine hits and surrendering two earned runs. He finished the afternoon with a season-high eight strikeouts, giving him five or more punchouts in each of his three starts this year.
 
Junior southpaw Alex Sanderson and senior right-handed pitcher Kyle Beaty combined for 3.0 innings of scoreless baseball out of the bullpen.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 12; UMass Lowell 4
Records: USC Upstate (6-4; 0-0 Big South); UMass Lowell (3-6; 0-0 America East)
Location: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
  • B1: Behind a pair of two-out hits, Upstate produced its first run as Johnny Sweeney ripped a double into the rightfield corner, scoring Wylie Waters from first.
  • T2: Battling back after surrendering a run in the prior half inning, UMass Lowell scratched a pair in the second to take the lead for the first time. Rowan Masse and Zachary Scott knocked in the pair, each with an RBI single for the River Hawks.
  • B2: Tying the game for the Spartans and answering the River Hawks' pair of runs, Alex Ritzer dropped an RBI single into the right-center gap, sending home Cayden Wotipka from third.
  • B3: Delivering Upstate the lead, Preston Lucas picked up his first three RBI, clearing the basepaths with a double into the rightfield corner with the bases loaded.
  • T4: Trimming the deficit to one, UMass Lowell's Brayden Cali and Scott drove home a pair of runs with RBI singles.
  • B6: Producing another two-out RBI and providing a run of insurance, Vance Sheahan beat out an infield single to the left side with Lucas racing home to cross the plate.
  • B7: Adding further insurance, Upstate tacked another three-spot to the scoreboard. Lucas registered his fourth RBI of the day, drawing a walk with the bases loaded to begin the scoring. Jake Armsey capped the scoring with a two-run single to right.
  • B8: Putting three more runs on the board, Upstate closed its scoring as it took advantage of a pair of River Hawk errors. A throwing error attempting to nab Scott Campbell stealing third led the first tally and a fielding error by the third baseman led the third. The second run came home off the bat of Alex Ritzer, an RBI single into center.
 
Notable
  • Recording 15-plus hits for the fourth straight game, Upstate pounded out 16 hits Sunday. With no fewer than 16 hits in a single game of its three-game set with UMass Lowell, Upstate recorded 15-plus hits in three straight games for the first time since Feb. 22-25, 2017.
  • Through four games this week, the Spartans total 72 hits, recording 16-plus in fourth straight contests. The 72 hits are the most in a four-game stretch in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) and stand as the most known hits in a four-game span in program history (game-by-game records back to the 2004 season).
  • The Spartans' 72 hits over its last four games are the most in a four-game stretch since registering 69 hits from Feb. 28-March 8, 2006.
  • Earning a quality start in consecutive starts following his start Sunday, Chris Torres is the first Upstate starting pitcher with a quality start in consecutive starts since Henry Proger on May 3 and May 11, 2024, versus High Point and Longwood, respectively.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Breaking up a stretch of 10 of 11 games played at Cleveland S. Harley Park, USC Upstate takes its hosting duties on the road, hosting Clemson Tuesday evening at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. The lone meeting between the Spartans and Tigers features a 6 p.m. ET first pitch.
 
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SAVE THE DATE FOR SPARTY'S BALL – MAY 17th – Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraising event of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF), to be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Milliken Club at Fifth Third Park. For tickets, sponsorship and auction information, click here!
 
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