USC Upstate baseball defeated Gardner-Webb 16-8 at Cleveland S. Harley Park on May 1, ending a nine-game losing streak and extending its series winning streak against the Runnin’ Bulldogs to 13 games.
The game was significant for the Spartans as they achieved double-digit hits for the first time in ten games, recording a total of 16. Senior first baseman Wylie Waters led the team with four hits and four runs batted in, both career highs. Senior leftfielder Preston Lucas also set a personal best with three hits. Waters, Lucas, and fifth-year senior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney each hit home runs during the game.
Waters’ two-run homer in the second inning started a five-run rally that gave USC Upstate a lead it maintained throughout the evening. Sweeney’s three-run home run in the fourth inning marked his eighth of the season and tied him for the program’s Division I era career record at thirty home runs. On pitching duty, junior Chris Torres earned his fifth win by throwing five innings with two strikeouts, while Max Eichenberger delivered two scoreless innings from the bullpen.
Gardner-Webb opened scoring in the first inning but was overtaken after USC Upstate’s big second frame. The Spartans added seven more runs in their highest-scoring inning since February during the sixth.
With this win, USC Upstate improved its record to 20-26 overall and 9-10 in Big South Conference play.
