SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second time during the 2025 season, USC Upstate baseball faces a former conference mate from its days competing in the ASUN as it welcomes East Tennessee State to Cleveland S. Harley Park for a three-game set this weekend. The Buccaneers join Stetson and Gardner-Webb as former ASUN foes on the Spartans' schedule this season.
 
Weekend Series
March 28-30, 2025 | 5:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. / 1:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (13-11; 3-3 Big South) vs. East Tennessee State (19-5; 2-1 SoCon)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (13-11; 3-3 Big South); East Tennessee State (19-5; 2-1 SoCon)
Series: East Tennessee State leads 16-6
Last Five Meetings: Feb. 22, 2025 (ETSU 9; UPST 2); May 4, 2014 (ETSU 5; UPST 2); May 3, 2024 (ETSU 3; UPST 2); May 2, 2024 (ETSU 8; UPST 4); May 25, 2013 (ETSU 4; UPST 3)
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | East Tennessee State
Game One: RHP Darin Kuskie (1-1; 4.76 ERA) | RHP Carter Fink (4-0; 3.42 ERA)
Game Two: To Be Announced | To Be Announced
Game Three: To Be Announced | To Be Announced
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate
Pitcher: Striking out a career-high 10 against Charleston Southern as he earned his third quality start of the season last Sunday, sophomore left-handed pitcher Chris Torres earned his first Big South Starting Pitcher of the Week nod Monday afternoon. He held the Buccaneers in check over 6.0 scoreless innings, limiting his opposition to five hits. He sports a 3-3 record and 4.55 ERA over 29.2 innings this season, striking out a team-high 37 batters.
 
Position Player: Continuing the torrid stretch at the plate that delivered him Big South Player of the Week accolades, senior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney finished with a career-high four hits and career-high seven RBI Tuesday versus NC State. He finished the night 4-of-4 while reaching five times, pushing him to 15-of-16 at the plate and reaching in 20 of his last 21 plate appearances in his last five games. He enters the weekend with a .355 batting average, a team-leading 29 RBI, and a team-high-tying eight homers.
 
East Tennessee State
Pitcher: Posting a 1.42 ERA over 25.1 innings, sophomore right-hander Brady Frederick leads the SoCon and ranks 17^th in the country in earned run average. He's posted five scoreless outings on the season and given up no earned runs in six of his nine outings. Frederick's struck out 27 hitters against six walks while holding opponents to a .172 batting average against.
 
Position Player: Leading one of the nation's top slugging teams in the nation—ranked third in the NCAA in home runs (57) and fourth in slugging percentage (.598)—junior infielder Grant Gallagher tallies 12 long balls this season. He, like his team, ranks third in the country in homers, as 12 of his 25 hits in 2025 have left the ballpark. He also sports 21 RBI to complement his slugging totals.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
In the second of three matchups during the 2025 season, USC Upstate faces Wofford as the two crosstown rivals open Fifth Third Park, the home of the Hub City Spartanburgers, Tuesday evening. First pitch between the Spartans and Terriers is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
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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!