SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Coming off the team's quarterfinal victory over Winthrop Thursday afternoon, USC Upstate baseball continues play at the Big South Baseball Championship Friday morning as the No. 1 seed Spartans face off against No. 2 seed High Point in the event's winner's bracket with a spot in Saturday's championship game on the line.
 
2025 Big South Baseball Championship
May 23, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. ET
No. 1 USC Upstate (34-23; 19-5 Big South) vs. No. 2 High Point (39-17; 18-6 Big South)
Truist Point | High Point, N.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | 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 (34-23; 19-5 Big South); High Point (39-17; 18-6 Big South)
Series: USC Upstate leads 15-10
Last Five Meetings: April 6, 2025 (HPU 9; UPST 8); April 5, 2025 (UPST 7; HPU 2); April 4, 2025 (UPST 10; HPU 6); May 25, 2024 (HPU 6; UPST 0); May 23, 2024 (HPU 10; UPST 8)
 
Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Opponent
RHP Darin Kuskie (5-1; 4.99 ERA) | Dylan Story (7-3; 6.53 ERA)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate
Pitcher: Positing a 5-1 record and 4.99 ERA over 52.1 innings of work during the regular season, sophomore right-handed pitcher Darin Kuskie garnered a Second Team All-Big South selection. He enters the postseason posting a 9.97 strikeout per nine innings total—tops among Upstate starting pitchers—and a .254 opponent's batting average. He's recorded a pair of quality starts on the season, including a 6.0-inning, six-strikeout performance versus Longwood in early May.
 
Position Player: A Second Team All-Big South selection, redshirt sophomore centerfielder Scott Newman launched his 18^th homer of the season—one of four Spartan longballs in the team's Big South Championship opener—in Upstate's quarterfinal win over Winthrop. His 2025 home run total ties for the third most in a single season in program history as he's regained the team lead in the category. He enters Friday slashing .302/.415/.581 with 57 RBI and 70 runs scored.
 
High Point
Pitcher: Taking the ball for the Panthers Friday morning, sophomore right-handed pitcher Dylan Story makes his 15^th start, carrying his 7-3 record into the contest. He's pitched to a 6.53 ERA and .284 opponents' batting average over 70.1 innings of work. Story also struck out 54 hitters on the season against 41 walks.
 
Position Player: The Big South Player of the Year, senior outfielder Konni Durschlag leads the league with his .448 batting average, the lone qualified player in the conference hitting greater than .400 on the year. He's recorded a league-high 95 hits with 39 going for extra bases, including 23 doubles. Durschlag also paces the Big South with 79 runs scored.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Following its second game in the Big South Tournament, USC Upstate returns to action either Saturday afternoon or Friday evening as play at the event continues. The Spartans, depending on the result, will either continue Saturday at noon or Friday at 7 p.m. ET, with the team's opponent to be determined.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
 
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