USC Upstate baseball secured a 9-1 victory over Charleston Southern on April 10, opening their series at Cleveland S. Harley Park with a strong performance from both pitchers and hitters.
The win is significant as it marks the Spartans’ sixth consecutive triumph against the Buccaneers and keeps them on track for a fifth straight series victory. The pitching staff allowed only three hits and one run throughout the game, setting a solid foundation for the team’s success.
Junior left-handed pitcher Chris Torres made his first start since March 27, throwing 5.2 innings with two strikeouts while conceding just three hits and one run. Four bullpen pitchers—Andrew Kummer, Jacob Kirby, Jack Gibson, and Brad Benton—combined for 3.1 hitless innings in relief. Kummer notably entered with bases loaded in the sixth inning and struck out the only batter he faced, preventing any runs from scoring.
On offense, fifth-year senior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a grand slam home run to right-center field. This was his team-lead-tying sixth homer of the season and resulted in four runs batted in—a season high for him. Senior catcher Preston Lucas contributed two hits and two RBI, including a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. Senior second baseman Gage Griggs added two more RBI during the game.
Sweeney’s grand slam was USC Upstate’s second of this season and extended their streak of seasons with multiple grand slams to six years dating back to 2021. Kummer has now stranded all but one of twelve inherited bases-loaded runners this year, leading his team in that category.
The Spartans improved their record to 17-16 overall (7-6 Big South), while Charleston Southern fell to 20-12 (5-5 Big South). The teams will continue their series at Cleveland S. Harley Park.
