Max Bianchini 6th Inn. vs. Gardner-Webb Gm 2 2025
Ryan Frye
4
Winner USC Upstate UPST 23-21
2
Gardner-Webb GWU 16-27
Winner
USC Upstate UPST
23-21
4
Final
2
Gardner-Webb GWU
16-27
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
USC Upstate UPST 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 10 0
Gardner-Webb GWU 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 10 3

W: Bianchini, Max (4-3) L: VIEIRA, Nick (0-3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Max Bianchini Tosses 4.2 Scoreless Innings, Securing Baseball a Series Victory and 4-2 Win Saturday at Gardner-Webb

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A day after winning behind a double-digit output from its offense, USC Upstate baseball captured a series victory over Gardner-Webb behind its pitching, earning a 4-2 win at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium Saturday. The win secured the Spartans' fourth straight conference series win.
 
Earning the victory, redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Max Bianchini permitted three hits and four baserunners as he worked 4.2 scoreless innings for the Spartans, striking out three. Starting pitcher, sophomore righty Darin Kuskie tossed 4.1 innings, scattering seven hits while striking out four batters.
 
Backing Kuskie and Bianchini, senior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney drove in all four Upstate runs, collecting his fifth game of the season with four-plus RBI. He finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk, producing three of his four RBI with his 14th home run of the year, a three-run shot off the scoreboard in right-center.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 4; Gardner-Webb 2
Records: USC Upstate (23-21; 10-4 Big South); Gardner-Webb (16-27; 5-12 Big South)
Location: Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium | Boiling Springs, N.C.
 
How It Happened
  • T1: Putting itself on the board early, USC Upstate struck for three in the first inning as Johnny Sweeney hit the middle of the scoreboard in right-center with a three-run blast.
  • B1: Getting a run back, Gardner-Webb pushed one across on a sac fly from Dale Francis Jr.
  • T3: Greeting a new Runnin' Bulldog arm, Sweeney drove home another run, ripping a single through the right side to score Henry Zenor.
  • B5: Sneaking one through the left side of the infield, Nick Capozzi tacked another run on the board for Gardner-Webb.
 
Notable
  • Johnny Sweeney, driving home all four Spartan runs Saturday, recorded his fifth game of the campaign with four or more RBI this season. His total ties for the second-most four-plus RBI games in a single season—equaling Charlie Carpenter's 2017 total—and trails the eight such contests by teammate Wylie Waters in 2025.
  • Pushing his season RBI total to 58, Sweeney's season total ranks as the fifth-best single-season RBI total in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.). The total ties for 13th in a single season in program history.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
 
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!
 
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!
 
Print Friendly Version