CLEMSON, S.C. – In the team's first-ever NCAA Regional game, facing a raucous environment at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, USC Upstate baseball didn't let the bright lights or big stage change who it has always been: a gritty team ready to fight. Jumping out early and battling back late, the Spartans left it all on the field Friday night, dropping 7-3 in the team's Regional opener to No. 11 Clemson.
 
Despite going three up, three down in the opening frame, Upstate fed off the momentum of back-to-back strikeouts from redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Amp Phillips in the home half, jumping out to an early 1-0 advantage behind senior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney's 18^th homer of the season to begin the second. Pitching with the lead, Phillips settled in, striking out five more hitters heading into the fifth inning. He'd finish the night with nine punchouts.
 
The fourth frame saw the Spartans tack on an insurance run as junior second baseman Gage Griggs dumped a single into center, staking a two-run advantage. Clemson, however, answered in the fifth, tying the game on a two-run double from centerfielder Cam Cannarella before he'd score later in the inning via sac fly, pushing the Tigers to a slim, one-run cushion.
 
The eighth stanza proved Upstate's opportunity to answer with Tiger left-hander Jacob McGovern lifted in favor of closer Lucas Mahlstedt—who ranks second in the NCAA with 15 saves. Redshirt sophomore centerfielder Scott Newman pounced against the new Clemson arm, driving the first pitch he saw off the batter's eye, knotting the game with his team-leading 19^th long ball of the season.
 
In the home half, the Tigers responded with four runs of its own, building the final margin in the 7-3 final.
 
Game Information
Score: No. 11 Clemson 7; USC Upstate 3
Records: USC Upstate (36-24); Clemson (45-16)
Location: Doug Kingsmore Stadium | Clemson, S.C.
 
How It Happened

• T2: Depositing an 0-1 pitch into the seats in right, Johnny Sweeney delivered the Spartans an early advantage with a solo shot, his 18^th of the year.
• T4: Dropping a 3-1 pitch just out of the reach of the Tiger second baseman into shallow center, Gage Griggs added another Upstate run, driving home Scott Newman.
• B5: Sneaking a ball just inside the leftfield line, Cam Cannarella tied the game for Clemson, plating a pair with his double into the corner. He'd later score to push the Tigers out front behind a sac fly from Collin Priest.
• T8: Greeting Clemson closer Lucas Mahlstedt, Newman clanged one off the batter's eye, as his solo shot and 19^th long ball of the season tied the ballgame.
• B8: Answering the Spartans, the Tigers clawed four tallies in the home half of the eighth. An RBI single from TP Wentworth and a sac from Andrew Ciufo pushed across the first two before Cannarella slugged a two-run homer to close the day's scoring.

 
Notable

• Behind a first-inning single to left, Vance Shehan extended his Division I era (2007-pres.) reached base streak to 47 games.
• With Johnny Sweeney's homer in the second inning, USC Upstate reached the 100-home run plateau for the second straight season. The 2025 season marks the second occurrence of 100-plus team home runs in program history.
• Using his solo shot in the eighth inning, Scott Newman reached 60 RBI on the season, making the 2025 campaign the first since 1988 to feature three or more players with 60 RBI. Newman is joined by Sweeney (82) and Preston Lucas (61) in accomplishing the feat.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
USC Upstate returns to action at the NCAA Clemson Regional Saturday afternoon, facing No. 3 seed (RV) Kentucky in an elimination game. First pitch between the Spartans and Wildcats is scheduled for noon ET.
 
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