Sunday, May 31
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
3:00 p.m.
University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
34-30
1
vs
12
Oklahoma State
39-21
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 1 |
| USC Upstate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Photo by: Emma Hudson
Reaching Greater Heights, Baseball's Season Comes Close on Day Three of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional
5/31/2026 8:31:00 PM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Finding themselves competing on the third day of an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history, USC Upstate baseball remained resilient until the end in Sunday's do-or-die elimination game against Oklahoma State. While the outcome did not break the Spartans' way in the 12-1 setback, the second of two straight trips to the NCAA Tournament showed the Spartans can hang with anyone in the country.
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Capping his strong tournament, redshirt freshman centerfielder Trey Bentley logged the Spartans' lone multi-hit effort, picking up two of the team's five hits. For the second straight game, he drove home a run with a double in the ninth inning, as his two-bagger drove home fifth-year designated hitter Johnny Sweeney from first base.
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Redshirt sophomore shortstop Maloy Heaghney, senior leftfielder Preston Lucas, and senior first baseman Wylie Waters each recorded a hit for Upstate. Sweeny drew the lone free base issued by the Cowboys, appropriately being hit by a pitch, the 31st HBP of his season.
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On the mound, two relievers, junior left-handed pitcher Jack Gibson and senior right-hander Juan Reyes, combined for two scoreless innings, each working an inning apiece. Sophomore righty Cayden Mackey tied his season-high with a team-best four strikeouts in three innings of relief.
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Game Information
Score: Oklahoma State 12; USC Upstate 1
Records: USC Upstate (34-30; 13-11 Big South); Oklahoma State (39-21; 18-12 Big 12)
Location: Sewell-Thomas Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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How It Happened
Notable
Connect with the SpartansÂ
Facebook.com/UpstateAthleticsÂ
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartansÂ
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartansÂ
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!
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Capping his strong tournament, redshirt freshman centerfielder Trey Bentley logged the Spartans' lone multi-hit effort, picking up two of the team's five hits. For the second straight game, he drove home a run with a double in the ninth inning, as his two-bagger drove home fifth-year designated hitter Johnny Sweeney from first base.
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Redshirt sophomore shortstop Maloy Heaghney, senior leftfielder Preston Lucas, and senior first baseman Wylie Waters each recorded a hit for Upstate. Sweeny drew the lone free base issued by the Cowboys, appropriately being hit by a pitch, the 31st HBP of his season.
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On the mound, two relievers, junior left-handed pitcher Jack Gibson and senior right-hander Juan Reyes, combined for two scoreless innings, each working an inning apiece. Sophomore righty Cayden Mackey tied his season-high with a team-best four strikeouts in three innings of relief.
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Game Information
Score: Oklahoma State 12; USC Upstate 1
Records: USC Upstate (34-30; 13-11 Big South); Oklahoma State (39-21; 18-12 Big 12)
Location: Sewell-Thomas Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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How It Happened
- T2: Breaking the deadlock and striking first for the Cowboys, Oklahoma State's Campbell Smithwick jumped on a 0-0 pitch, depositing it over the wall in rightfield.
- T3: Adding to their advantage, the Cowboys struck for seven runs in the third frame. A pair of three-run home runs, one from Avery Ortiz and one from Remo Indomenico, plated six of the seven tallies.
- T4:Â Hanging another run on the board, Oklahoma State's Smithwick slugged another long ball, leaving the yard in left.
- T7: Expanding their advantage, the Cowboys clubbed two additional long balls in the seventh, solo shots from Indomenico and Terrance Bowen.
Notable
- Entering the game in the third inning for the Spartans, Andrew Kummer made his 27th appearance of the season. His appearance total ties for the fifth-most pitching appearances in a single season, the most by a Spartan in a season since Grant Hoppack appeared in 27 games in 2018.
- Making 26 of his appearances in relief, Kummer's 26 relief outings are the most in a season by a Spartan since Kevin Davis appeared in relief 26 times in 2022. The 26 relief appearances this year tie for the seventh-most in a single season in program history.
- Closing the regular season on Sunday at the Tuscaloosa Regional, USC Upstate completed its 64th game of the season, a program record. The 2026 season marks the fourth straight season the Spartans have played 60 or more games.
Connect with the SpartansÂ
Facebook.com/UpstateAthleticsÂ
Twitter | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartansÂ
Instagram | @UpstateBSB | @UpstateSpartansÂ
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hudson Barrett (6-1)
L: Eichenberger, Max (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Colin Brueggemann 1 ; Garrett Shull 1
HR: Avery Ortiz 1 ; Campbell Smithwick 2 ; Remo Indomenico 2 ; Terrance Bowen 1
RBI: Avery Ortiz 3 ; Campbell Smithwick 3 ; Colin Brueggemann 1 ; Remo Indomenico 4 ; Terrance Bowen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brock Thompson 1 ; Kollin Ritchie 1 ; Avery Ortiz 2 ; Campbell Smithwick 3 ; Colin Brueggemann 1 ; Garrett Shull 1 ; Remo Indomenico 2 ; Terrance Bowen 1
HBP: Garrett Shull 1
Batting:
2B: Bentley, Trey 1
RBI: Bentley, Trey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sweeney, Johnny 1
HBP: Sweeney, Johnny 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
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RHP
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RHP
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RHP
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