For First Time Since 2002, Baseball Begins Season On the Road, Travelling to South Alabama as the Quest for Back-to-Back Big South Titles Begins Friday

Friday, February 13

Mobile, Ala.

7:30 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

South Alabama

Johnny Sweeney 1st AB vs. Clemson NCAA 2025 - EH

Photo by: Emma Hudson

2/12/2026 1:51:00 PM | Baseball

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following its Big South Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2025, USC Upstate baseball opens the 2026 season in an unfamiliar situation, heading on the road for the first time in 24 years to begin a new campaign. The Spartans travel to Mobile, Ala., for a three-game series with South Alabama, meeting the Jaguars for the first times in program history.

Weekend Series
February 13-15, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (36-25; 19-5 Big South in 2025) vs. South Alabama (23-28; 12-18 Sun Belt in 2025)
Stanky Field | Mobile, Ala.

TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App (Sunday Only)
Radio: Fox Sports Spartanburg 98.3 FM/1400 AM | Also available via the Fox Sports Spartanburg or TuneIn App (Friday & Sunday Only)

How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (36-25; 19-5 Big South in 2025); South Alabama (23-28; 12-18 Sun Belt in 2025)
Series: First Meetings
Last Five Meetings: First Meetings

Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | South Alabama
Game One: LHP Chris Torres (8-4; 4.76 ERA in 2025) | RHP Mitchell Heer (7-2; 3.53 ERA in 2025)
Game Two: RHP Brent Stukes (2-1; 4.44 ERA in 2025 at North Greenville) | LHP Max Miller (7-0; 2.12 ERA in 2025 at Pearl River CC)
Game Three: RHP Max Bianchini (5-3; 4.32 ERA in 2025) | RHP Daniel Gonzalez (4-2; 5.14 ERA in 2025 at UL Monroe)

Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Entering the 2026 season, the Spartans' roster features five Preseason All-Big South selections—the most of any league team—as redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Max Bianchini, senior catcher Preston Lucas, fifth-year designated hitter Johnny Sweeney, junior left-handed pitcher Chris Torres, and redshirt sophomore outfielder Henry Zenor earned the honors. Sweeney headlines the list as he also garnered NCBWA Second Team Preseason All-American selection, returning after ranking sixth in the NCAA last season with 82 RBI. On the mound, Bianchini earned a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List.

South Alabama: Returning its lone All-Sun Belt selection from a season ago, fifth-year right-handed pitcher Mitchell Heer returns following a Second Team All-Sun Belt nod. He pitched to a 7-2 record across 12 appearances last season, maintaining a 3.53 ERA over 66.1 innings. Heer held opponents to a .242 batting average while posting a 1.13 WHIP, a total which ranked sixth in the Sun Belt last season.

Up Next for the Spartans
Returning home for the first time, USC Upstate begins its midweek slate with its home opener against Western Carolina Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET. The game marks the fourth time in the past five seasons that the Catamounts have represented the Spartans' first midweek opponent.

Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans

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