Baseball Completes Home-and-Home Midweek Series with Western Carolina, Meeting Tuesday in Cullowhee

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Concluding its five-game road swing with a return to the Carolinas, USC Upstate baseball completes its home-and-home season series with Western Carolina, travelling to Cullowhee, N.C. Tuesday for a 5 p.m. ET first pitch. The Spartans and Catamounts' second meeting of the campaign—Upstate won 17-0 on Feb. 17—marks the 10^th meeting between the two clubs in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) with Upstate holding a 6-4 advantage in the series.

Tuesday's Matchup
April 7, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (16-17; 6-6 Big South) vs. Western Carolina (20-13; 3-3 SoCon)
Childress Field at Hennon Stadium | Cullowhee, N.C.

How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (16-17; 6-6 Big South); Western Carolina (20-13; 3-3 SoCon)
Series: USC Upstate leads 6-4
Last Five Meetings: Feb. 17, 2026 (UPST 17; WCU 0); Feb. 26, 2025 (UPST 16; WCU 10); Feb. 18, 2025 (WCU 10; UPST 7); May 1, 2024 (UPST 13; WCU 7); Feb. 21, 2024 (UPST 16; WCU 9)

Probable Starting Pitchers
USC Upstate | Western Carolina
RHP Nathan Hook (0-1; 4.00 ERA) | RHP Tyler Oaks (1-2; 7.50 ERA)

Players to Watch
USC Upstate: The leading run producer for the Spartans last week, redshirt sophomore shortstop Maloy Heaghney drove home nine runs across four games last week as he led the club in RBI, total bases, and stolen bases. He enters play Tuesday ranked second in the Big South with 35 RBI as the total supplements his .313/.411/.522 slash line. Heaghney also ranks second among Spartans with eight stolen bases this season, stealing five last week, including a program-record tying four last Friday.

Western Carolina: One of two qualified Catamounts hitting better than .300 on the season, sophomore outfielder Walker Fox concludes the weekend ranked eighth in the SoCon with 33 RBI this season. He sports a .306/.402/.583 three-slash line while totaling 33 RBI, 25 runs, nine doubles, and seven home runs this season. He enters Tuesday's contest holding a 10-game reached base streak (four-game hitting streak) for the Catamounts.

Up Next for the Spartans
Beginning a four-game stretch against opponents hailing from the Holy City, Upstate returns to Cleveland S. Harley Park for a three-game series versus Charleston Southern. The Spartans and Buccaneers meet Friday (6 p.m. ET), Saturday (2 p.m.), and Sunday (1 p.m.) in the series.

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

TICKETS ON-SALE FOR SPARTY'S BALL – MAY 15^th
Support USC Upstate student-athletes at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraising event of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF), to be held Friday, May 15, 2025, at The Piedmont Club. For tickets, sponsorship, and auction information, click here!

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Maloy Heaghney

Nathan Hook

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