Max Kaplan Notches Second Straight Quality Start and Victory as Bats Back Pitching in 7-3 Win at North Florida

Tuesday, February 24

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

5-4

North Florida

5-4

USC Upstate

North Florida

Max Kaplan 2nd Inn. vs. Western Carolina Gm 1 2026 - CH

Photo by: Catherine Harney

2/24/2026 11:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Beginning a two-game midweek set against former ASUN conference mates, USC Upstate baseball notched its third straight win over North Florida as a non-conference foe, notching a 7-3 win Tuesday evening.

Taking the ball to make his second straight midweek start, sophomore left-handed pitcher Max Kaplan notched another quality start, turning in six scoreless innings for the win. He finished the night with six strikeouts while scattering four hits and six total baserunners. Working in relief, senior right-hander Juan Reyes earned the save behind 3.0 innings of work, racking up a career-high-tying four strikeouts.

Backing the Spartans' pitching, the team's offense collected 10 hits, reaching double-digit knocks for the sixth time in nine games. Four Spartans, redshirt senior third baseman Jake Armsey, redshirt sophomore catcher Tyler Lang, fifth-year senior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney, and redshirt sophomore centerfielder Henry Zenor, each tallied two hits apiece.

Continuing his torrid pace at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium, Sweeney launched Upstate's lone long ball, his third straight game homering at North Florida. Zenor, behind his two hits, pushed his hitting streak to nine games.

Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 7; North Florida 3
Records: USC Upstate (5-4; 0-0 Big South); North Florida (5-4; 0-0 ASUN)
Location: Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium | Jacksonville, Fla.

How It Happened

T1: Three batters into the contest, USC Upstate struck first as Tyler Lang laced a double down the leftfield line, driving home leadoff man Henry Zenor. Later in the frame, Jake Armsey pushed across another with a sacrifice fly before Kenan Bowman capped the three-run frame by ripping a single through the left side.
T7: Adding to their advantage, the Spartans scratched another four tallies in the seventh. Johnny Sweeney delivered the first two runs, slugging a two-run shot to right. A passed ball produced another Upstate tally with a groundout from Zenor pushing across another with the bases juiced.
B9: Scratching a couple of runs as it sought a comeback, North Florida scored thrice in the game's final half inning. Loading the bases, the Osprey notched the first behind a walk before Santiago Ordonez drove home two with a single to left-center.

Notable

Homering in the seventh inning, Johnny Sweeney extended his streak of games at North Florida with a home run to three games. He owns a 6-for-13 mark with a triple, three home runs, four RBI, six runs, and two walks against the Osprey in his career.
Picking up a pair of hits for his team-lead-tying fifth multi-hit game of the season, Henry Zenor extended his team-leading hitting streak to nine games.

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