Securing Eighth Straight Season with a Power-Four Victory, Baseball Downs Clemson 6-3 at Fifth Third Park

Tuesday, May 12

Spartanburg, S.C.

6:00 p.m.

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

26-27

Clemson

30-23

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Clemson	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	8	2
USC Upstate	1	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	6	9	0

Henry Zenor Scoring 2nd Inn. vs. Clemson Gm 2 2026 - NM

Photo by: Natalia Moll

5/12/2026 11:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the eighth straight season, USC Upstate baseball captured a Power-Four victory, downing Clemson 6-3 Tuesday evening at Fifth Third Park—the home of the Hub City Spartanburgers. The win, Upstate's fourth over the Tigers since 2021, improved the Spartans to 3-0 this season in minor league parks, winning both games played at Fifth Third Park.

Despite the Tigers scratching a run in the opening frame, Upstate didn't back down, responding immediately in the home half of the first inning with a run of its own. The Spartans struck the big blow in the second, building their lead behind a four-run frame. Ultimately, Upstate added a tally in the sixth inning, fending off Clemson runs in the fifth and ninth to secure the win.

Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Max Bianchini and redshirt freshman righty Jacob Kirby combined to work 5.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The duo combined to scatter two hits and five total baserunners while striking out a combined four in their outings.

Entering in the second inning, Bianchini settled the Spartans, retiring the Tigers in order in his first inning of work to set up the Spartans' four-run explosion in the home half. He sat down the first five hitters he faced. Kirby, entering the game in the sixth, limited Clemson's damage, answering its run in the fifth with three scoreless frames.

Pacing the Upstate offense, redshirt sophomore shortstop Maloy Heaghney collected three hits, ripping a pair of doubles. He and redshirt senior second baseman Alex Ritzer (two hits) closed the evening with multi-hit efforts. Tagging the Spartans' lone multi-RBI game, redshirt sophomore designated hitter Tyler Lang lofted two sac flies.

Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 6; Clemson 3
Records: USC Upstate (26-27; 13-11 Big South); Clemson (30-23; 9-18 ACC)
Location: Fifth Third Park | Spartanburg, S.C.

How It Happened

T1: Taking advantage of a pair of walks in the frame, Clemson struck first as Tryston McCladdie doubled into rightfield.
B1: Answering the Tigers' tally, Upstate punched across one of its own in the opening stanza as Johnny Sweeney dropped a single into right, scoring Maloy Heaghney from second.
B2: Staking its lead, Upstate sent nine batters to the plate as it scored four runs in the second. Delivering the Spartans the lead, Alex Ritzer executed a perfect squeeze play, beating out the bunt single—forcing a Clemson error in the process—to push across Jake Armsey. Henry Zenor and Maloy Heaghney followed with run-producing hits, seeing Upstate string three straight hits together to score thrice. Tyler Lang capped the frame with a sac fly.
T5: Adding another RBI to his total, McCladdie produced a run with a sac fly to center.
B6: Driving home Upstate's final run of the night, Lang added another RBI to his ledger with his second sac fly of the evening.
T9: Capping the night's scoring, Clemson claimed a run on an RBI groundout from Jacob Jarrell.

Notable

Winning Tuesday evening, Upstate notched at least one Power-Four win for the eighth straight season, a streak running back to 2019. During the past eight seasons, the Spartans own 19 Power-Four victories with Clemson standing as the most common Power-Four opponent defeated (four times).
For the second time in four games, the Spartans saw a player drive home two runs with multiple sac flies. Tuesday, Tyler Lang registered two sac flies, joining Trey Bentley (May 8 vs. Presbyterian) in notching two sac flies in a single contest in 2026.

Up Next for the Spartans
Closing the 2026 regular season with non-conference play for the third time in five seasons, USC Upstate hosts Elon and Northern Kentucky in a split weekend. The Spartans face the Phoenix Thursday, closing the season series, before facing the Norse Friday and Saturday.

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!