SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Finishing a week that features four games against ranked opponents, USC Upstate baseball hosts a ranked foe at Cleveland S. Harley Park for the first time since 2023 as it welcomes No. 19 Troy to the Hub City for a three-game series this weekend. The Spartans and Trojans meet for the first time since Upstate visited Troy in 2023.
 
Weekend Series
March 7-9, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. / 1:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (6-5; 0-0 Big South) vs. No. 19 Troy (11-2; 0-0 Sun Belt)
Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App (Saturday & Sunday Only)
Radio: Fox Sports Spartanburg 98.3 FM/1400 AM | Also available via the Fox Sports Spartanburg or TuneIn App
 
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (6-5; 0-0 Big South); Troy (11-2; 0-0 Sun Belt)
Series: Troy leads 3-0
Last Five Meetings: March 5, 2023 (TROY 10; UPST 0 [7 inn.]); March 4, 2023 (TROY 15; UPST 9); March 3, 2023 (TROY 5; UPST 2)
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Troy
Game One: RHP Cooper Ellingworth (0-0; 4.72 ERA) | RHP Garrett Gainous (2-0; 2.57 ERA)
Game Two: LHP Max Kaplan (1-0; 3.77 ERA) | RHP Noah Edders (2-0; 4.20 ERA)
Game Three: LHP Chris Torres (2-0; 3.86 ERA) | LHP Drew Nelson (2-0; 2.30 ERA)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate
Pitcher: Taking the ball in game three, sophomore left-handed pitcher Chris Torres comes in having recorded a quality start in consecutive outings, becoming the first Spartan since Henry Proger in May 2024 to do so. Over the two starts, he's thrown 12.2 innings, averaging a shade over a strikeout per inning. He enters the weekend ranked fourth in total strikeouts, posting 19 punchouts against three walks.
 
Position Player: Despite going hitless in Tuesday's midweek, sophomore shortstop Vance Sheahan remains in the top-15 in the country in hits and hits per game, recording 23 at an average of 2.09 per game, ranking 11^th and eighth in the NCAA, respectively. He adds a pair of top-30 national rankings, placing 16^th in the nation in doubles (seven) and 30^th in stolen bases (eight). On the year, he crafts a .418/.439/.600 three-slash line.
 
Troy
Pitcher: Earning the start on Friday afternoon, senior right-handed pitcher Garrett Gainous comes off his best start of the season, his lone quality start, working 6.0 innings while striking out eight. He enters his latest start with 15 punchouts on the season over 14.0 innings of work, a strikeout per nine innings total of 9.64.
 
Position Player: Leading the Trojans with a .429 batting average, senior outfielder Steven Meier paces the NCAA with 25 runs scored, one of three of his top-five NCAA rankings this season. He ranks third in the country in runs per game (1.92) and fifth in doubles (eight) while ranking 19^th in the nation with nine stolen bases on the year.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Facing a pair of midweek contests to begin a five-game week for the first time during the 2025 campaign, USC Upstate hits the road for a pair at Stetson. The Spartans and Hatters face off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday before wrapping the midweek series Wednesday at 4:00 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!