Offense Hangs 13 Runs, Swipes Seven Bags as Baseball Evens Series With 13-9 Victory over Radford

Friday, April 3

Radford, Va.

4:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

16-16, 0

Radford

13-14, 0

UPST

Radford

Photo by: Emma Hudson

4/3/2026 8:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – Battling back to even its latest weekend Big South Conference series, USC Upstate baseball offense battered its way to victory Friday afternoon, pounding out 11 hits and 13 runs en route to a 13-8 series-evening victory over Radford.

After seeing their streak of conference contests hitting multiple home runs snapped Thursday, the Spartans hit a pair of opposite-field long balls Friday. Senior left-fielder Preston Lucas swatted the first, a two-run shot to left, proving the catalyst in a four-run second that saw Upstate regain a lead it wouldn't surrender. Breaking a deadlock in the fourth inning, redshirt sophomore shortstop Maloy Heaghney wrapped a solo shot around the rightfield foul pole, the first of six unanswered Spartan runs from the fourth to fifth.

Four Spartans finished with multi-RBI efforts as redshirt sophomore catcher Tyler Lang and redshirt sophomore centerfield Henry Zenor joined Heaghney and Lucas in the multi-RBI games with two RBI apiece. Senior second baseman Gage Griggs joined Heaghney, Lang, and Zenor with a multi-hit game, each recording two hits.

On the base paths, Upstate swiped seven bags, the most in a game for the club this season and the most since taking 10 against Gardner-Webb on May 7, 2023. Tying the program's single-game record, Heaghney led the Spartans with four stolen bases.

Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 13; Radford 8
Records: USC Upstate (16-16; 6-5 Big South); Radford (13-14; 3-5 Big South)
Location: Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium | Radford, Va.

How It Happened

T1: For the seventh time in eight games, Upstate scored a run in the opening frame as Wylie Waters ripped a single through the left side, scoring Johnny Sweeny from second.
B1: Answering the Spartans' opening run, Radford hung four on the board in its half of the first. An RBI groundout from Breckin Nace preceded an RBI single from Brady Powell and a two-run homer from Noah Toole.
T2: Providing a quick response, the Spartans struck for four in the second. A two-run, opposite-field homer from Preston Lucas began the scoring, pulling Upstate within one. A wild pitch scored Gage Griggs, who reached via bunt single, tying the game. Tyle Lang reclaimed the lead for Upstate with a sac fly to right, finishing the four-run stanza.
B2: Tying the game, the Highlanders scratched a run on a fielder's choice as Upstate attempted to turn two.
T4: Shooting a 3-2 pitch down the rightfield line, Maloy Heaghney broke the deadlock with an opposite-field solo shot wrapped around the foul pole.
T5: Blowing the game open and adding some insurance, Upstate's offense exploded for five runs in the fifth. Griggs drove home the first with an RBI single before Henry Zenor's two-run double drove home tallies two and three. A Maloy Heagney single and a Highlander wild pitch scored the final two runs of the frame.
B5: Getting a run back for Radford, Breckin Nace launched a solo homer to right.
B6: Tucking a double just inside the leftfield line, Hunter Keen drove home a run for the Highlanders, scoring Brooks Simpson.
T9: Tacking on some insurance, Upstate scored twice in its final trip to the plate, getting an RBI HBP from Johnny Sweeney and an RBI single from Lang.
B9: Capping the day's scoring, Radford scored twice in the final half inning. An RBI double from Tyler Sparrer preceded an RBI groundout by Brooks Simpson to plate the two tallies.

Notable

Swiping four bags Friday, Maloy Heaghney tied the program record for single-game steals, equalling Steve Barr's total versus Newberry on Feb. 28, 1990. Heaghney's Division I era (2007-pres.) record ties for the most in a single game by a Big South player this season.
Stealing seven bases as a club, Upstate's total marked the highest single-game mark since May 7, 2023, when the Spartans swiped 10 bags versus Gardner-Webb.

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