Johnny Sweeney 2nd AB vs. NC State 2025
Javonte Adams
15
Winner USC UPSTATE UPST 13-11
5
NC State ST 17-8
Winner
USC UPSTATE UPST
13-11
15
Final
5
NC State ST
17-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
USC UPSTATE UPST 2 3 4 0 0 1 5 15 11 0
NC State ST 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 5 4 1

W: Beaty, Kyle (3-0) L: Cooper Consiglio (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Secures Another Power-Four Victory, Run-Ruling NC State Tuesday

RALEIGH, N.C. – Concluding a four-game, five-day road trip competing against a perennial powerhouse and a program that made it to Omaha last season, USC Upstate baseball closed its road trip in style, earning its first run-rule victory of the 2025 season, downing NC State 15-5 Tuesday evening at Doak Field at Dail Park.
 
Continuing his torrid stretch at the plate, senior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney pushed his hit total to 13 over the past four games with a 4-for-4 night at the plate while reaching five total times. He was responsible for the majority of the Spartans' scoring production, collecting a career-high seven RBI and two runs scored, producing eight runs as he slugged a two-run blast in the second inning.
 
Redshirt freshman leftfielder Henry Zenor also fashioned a strong night at the dish, tying the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) program record for doubles in a game with three, part of a 3-for-5 game. He's the first Spartan since Robby McGaha versus Kansas on Feb. 15, 2019, and fifth player in the era to accomplish the feat.
 
Holding the Wolfpack at bay in the sixth and seventh frames, allowing Upstate to create and complete the run rule, junior right-handed pitchers Reece Hemmerling and Juan Reyes each notched a scoreless inning for the Spartans. Reyes slammed the door on the win, striking out the side in the seventh.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 15; NC State 5 (7 inn.)
Records: USC Upstate (13-11; 3-3 Big South); NC State (17-8; 4-2 ACC)
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park | Raleigh, N.C.
 
How It Happened
  • T1: Shooting an 0-1 pitch the other way and through the four-hole with the bases loaded, Scott Campbell drove in two to open the day's scoring and put Upstate on the board in the first inning for the third straight game.
  • T2: Racing home as the first pitch in Scott Newman's second plate appearance hit the backstop, Alex Ritzer scored the first of three tallies in the frame. Following a walk to Newman, Johnny Sweeney unloaded on a hanging slider, sending it into the trees beyond the wall in rightfield.
  • T3: Continuing to stack runs, Upstate hung four more runs on the scoreboard in the third. Henry Zenor split the right-center gap, pulling a middle-middle fastball to score Preston Lucas from second. Continuing his hot stretch at the plate, Sweeney used a nine-iron to drop a single into left, clearing the bases and collecting RBI numbers three, four, and five of the night.
  • B3: Taking advantage of a pair of free bases to begin the inning, NC State manufactured its first run of the night as Matt Heavner advanced to third and scored on successive fly balls to right, the second from Josh Hogue a sac fly.
  • B4: Loading the bases in their half for the first time in the game, the Wolfpack struck in a big way, greeting the new Spartan relief pitcher with a grand slam off the bat of Heavner.
  • T6: Scratching another run and getting one back, the Spartans' tally in the sixth came as Preston Lucas lifted a fly ball to the left-center gap with Newman racing home to score to complete the sac fly.
  • T7: Again, getting back its surrendered runs and then some, Upstate put forth its biggest inning of the night in the seventh. For the second and third times in the contest, the Spartans sent two across on wild pitches before Sweeney tacked on two more as he ripped a single into right and Lucas lifted a sac fly to left-center.
 
Notable
  • With its win Tuesday evening, Upstate has secured at least one victory in the midweek against a Power-Four program in six straight seasons. Each of the past two seasons has seen the Spartans down an ACC foe in the midweek, following Upstate's win over No. 2 Clemson on April 9, 2024.
  • Lacing three doubles, Henry Zenor tied the program's Division I era (2007-pres.) record for doubles in a single game. He is the first Spartan with a three-double game since Robby McGaha on Feb. 15, 2019, versus Kansas.
  • Reaching base all five times he came to the plate Tuesday, Johnny Sweeney has reached in 18 of his past 19 plate appearances dating back to Friday night at Charleston Southern. He improved to 13-of-14 at the dish with two doubles and four home runs in the stretch. His career-high seven RBI against the Wolfpack improved his total to 16 in the four-game stretch, 12 in the past two games.
 
Up Next for the Spartan
Returning home, Upstate ventures outside of league play for a three-game weekend series at Cleveland S. Harley Park. The Spartans welcome East Tennessee State to Spartanburg, hosting the Buccaneers Friday at 5 p.m. ET, Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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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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