SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following a five-game stint outside of Big South Conference play, USC Upstate baseball returns to league play this weekend with a series pitting the top two teams in the conference's preseason prognostications as it heads to High Point. The Spartans and Panthers, the two teams in last season's Big South Tournament's Championship Game, meet for three games Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET, Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
 
Saturday's game marks the third game for the Spartans to feature on ESPNU since joining the Big South ahead of the 2018-19 academic year, giving Upstate at least one game on the network in each of the past three seasons. Clay Matvick and Mike Rooney will be on the call.
 
Weekend Series
April 4-6, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. / 6:30 p.m. / 1:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (14-15; 3-3 Big South) at High Point (20-9; 6-0 Big South)
Williard Stadium | High Point, N.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ (Friday & Sunday) / ESPNU (Saturday) | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
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 (14-15; 3-3 Big South); High Point (20-9; 6-0 Big South)
Series: USC Upstate leads 13-9
Last Five Meetings: May 25, 2024 (HPU 6; UPST 0); May 23, 2024 (HPU 10; UPST 8); May 5, 2024 (HPU 13; UPST 7); May 3, 2024 (UPST 6; HPU 3); May 3, 2024 (HPU 19; UPST 11)
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | High Point
Game One: RHP Darin Kuskie (1-1; 4.58 ERA) | RHP Wade Walton (5-2; 3.86 ERA)
Game Two: RHP Amp Phillips (1-1; 5.67 ERA) | RHP Dylan Story (4-1; 5.25 ERA)
Game Three: LHP Chris Torres (3-4; 5.23 ERA) | LHP Dalton Hitt (3-1; 6.38 ERA)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate
Pitcher: Coming out of the bullpen for the Spartans Wednesday evening, freshman right-handed pitcher Caden Mackey put forth his longest career outing, helping Upstate attempt a comeback against Charlotte. He tossed 5.1 innings of scoreless relief, permitting just one hit and five total baserunners. Mackey also struck out a career-best six, posting the first multi-strikeout outing of his young career.
 
Position Player: Adding another pair of hits Wednesday at Charlotte, redshirt junior rightfielder Scott Campbell extended his team-best batting average to .418 as he lengthened his team-long hitting streak to 15 games. He enters the weekend ranked second in the Big South in batting average as he's collected 28 hits over 67 at-bats on the year with seven of his hits going for extra bases. He also leads Upstate with a .524 on-base percentage, ranking third in the league in the category.
 
High Point
Pitcher: The reigning Big South Starting Pitcher of the Week, freshman right-hander Wade Walton gets the ball for the Panthers Friday night. He comes off an outing that saw him strike out 10 over 6.0 innings at Radford, his second outing during conference play to see him punch out double-digit batters. Walton leads the Big South in total strikeouts, recording 51 through seven starts this season.
 
Position Player: Another Panther entering the weekend as a reigning Big South weekly award winner, senior outfielder Konni Durschlag captured Big South Player of the Week honors as he slashed .765/.826/1.353 on the week. With a .482 batting average on the season, he leads the NCAA in the category as he's recorded 54 hits on the year, a total that ranks fourth in the country.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Returning to the Palmetto State, Upstate hits the road for the state capital Tuesday, heading to Columbia for a meeting with South Carolina. First pitch between the Spartans and Gamecocks is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
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!