Baseball Fights Back, Pushing Across Go-Ahead Run in the Ninth in an 11-10 Midweek Victory at Charlotte

Wednesday, March 18

Charlotte, N.C.

4:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

11-11

Charlotte

14-7

USC Upstate

Charlotte

Photo by: Emma Hudson

3/18/2026 9:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Starting a five-game road swing with a game feeling more like a Spring Training contest than a college baseball game, USC Upstate baseball rallied multiple times, erasing a deficit that had grown as large as five runs with clutch runs in the late innings in an 11-10 victory Wednesday at Charlotte.

Using 10 pitchers against the 49ers, the Spartans' bullpen allowed just two runs from the third inning onward, putting Upstate in position for its comeback in the ninth inning. Six relievers, freshman right-handed pitcher Andrew Kummer, junior righty Nathan Hook, junior left-hander Jack Gibson, sophomore southpaw Max Kaplan, freshman righty Ben Chuttey, and redshirt freshman right-hander Jacob Kirby, turned in scoreless outings.

Tossing a scoreless eighth inning, Chuttey registered his first career victory before Kirby shut the door in the ninth to record his second save of the season.

Heading the effort at the plate, redshirt sophomore shortstop Maloy Heaghney collected a career-high six RBI as both of his hits went for extra bases, a first-inning, three-run homer and a two-run double in the third. Redshirt sophomore centerfielder Henry Zenor notched the Spartans' other multi-RBI night, driving home the tying runs in both the seventh and ninth innings.

Redshirt senior third baseman Jake Armsey drove home the go-ahead run in the ninth, lacing a single inside the third base bag. Fifth-year senior first baseman Johnny Sweeney and redshirt freshman leftfielder Trey Bentley each tallied an RBI for the Spartans.

Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 11; Charlotte 10
Records: USC Upstate (11-11; 2-1 Big South); Charlotte (14-7; 0-0 American)
Location: Hayes Stadium | Charlotte, N.C.

How It Happened

T1: For the second time in three games, Maloy Heaghney gets the game's scoring started with a three-run shot to left, his third home run of the year.
B1: Getting a pair of runs back, Charlotte's Dylan Koontz slugged a two-run home run to right-center.
B2: Fighting back to take the advantage, Charlotte sent 12 hitters to the plate, using seven hits to score six runs. Todd Hudson recorded the biggest hit for the 49ers in the frame, a two-run, go-ahead home run.
T3: Battling back, Upstate scratched three tallies in the third, doing so behind a pair of doubles coming from Johnny Sweeney and Heaghney. Heaghney's double drove home two, giving him a career-high five RBI through his first two at-bats.
T4: Pulling the Spartans within a run, Trey Bentley drove home a run with a single to center in his first at-bat of the day, scoring Henry Zenor.
B4: Taking advantage of a wild pitch, Charlotte added an insurance run in the fourth.
T6: Following a sac bunt from Bentley to push two runners into scoring position, Heaghney recorded RBI number six of the day with a groundout to third.
T7: Punching a ball inside third base and down the leftfield line, Zenor tied the game as he drove home Preston Lucas from second.
B7: Taking advantage of a failed pickoff attempt and a fielding error in center, Charlotte regained the advantage as Adrian Jimenez scored in the frame.
T9: Punching back one final time, Zenor tied the game again in the ninth as he ripped a single through the right side. Jake Armsey delivered the go-ahead run for Upstate as he tucked a ball inside the third base line, sending Kenan Bowman racing home.

Notable

Driving home five runs across his first two plate appearances and six total runs on the day, Maloy Heaghney's career-high total makes him the second Spartan with a five-plus RBI game this season. His six RBI surpass Jake Armsey's five RBI against Western Carolina on Feb. 17 for the most in a game by a Spartan this season.
Gunning down a runner at the plate in the third inning, Kenan Bowman recorded his team-best sixth outfield assist of 2026. His outfield assist total is the best for a Spartan since Koby Kropf totaled eight in 2024.

Up Next for the Spartans
For the first time in Big South play, USC Upstate hits the road, continuing its five-game road swing with a three-game set at Longwood. The Spartans and Lancers face off Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET, Saturday at 3:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

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