24-05-2025
USC Upstate defeats High Point 13-9 to reach Big South Tournament title game
HIGH POINT, N.C. (USC Upstate SID) – One game away from putting itself in the driver's seat at the Big South Baseball Championship, USC Upstate baseball advanced itself through the winner's bracket and secured its place in the Big South Tournament Championship Game for the third straight season behind a 13-9 come-from-behind victory Friday afternoon over No. 2 seed High Point. The Spartans, facing their first deficit in the 2025 iteration of the conference championship, displayed their resolve, fighting their way behind a six-run sixth inning. Settling Upstate, sophomore right-handed pitcher Cooper Ellingworth proved crucial in setting up the comeback as he limited the Panthers to three hits and two runs over 5.1 innings of work out of the bullpen, a career-long outing. He struck out six, tying a career-high as he earned his first win of the season. Following a one-out double from redshirt junior Alex Ritzer, Upstate forced High Point into its bullpen, a decision the Spartans took advantage of. Against the first Panther reliever, Upstate loaded the bases behind a walk and HBP before redshirt junior rightfielder Scott Campbell and junior designated hitter Johnny Sweeney notched back-to-back RBI with a single to center and walk, respectively. Facing a new High Point arm, redshirt sophomore centerfielder Scott Newman lifted a sac fly before consecutive doubles, a two-run two-bagger from junior catcher Preston Lucas and an infield double from junior second baseman Gage Griggs closed the inning's six-spot. The Spartans' six-run frame proved its largest, delivering it the lead for the first and final time, but the team showed its fight all game long, including erasing a four-run deficit in the first inning, matching High Point to begin the game anew in the second frame. Upstate, upon taking the lead, twice answered Panther runs with a tally in the subsequent half inning, doing so with a solo shot from redshirt freshman Henry Zenor and an RBI triple from Lucas. Game InformationScore: No. 1 USC Upstate 13; No. 2 High Point 9Records: USC Upstate (35-23; 19-5 Big South); High Point (39-18; 18-6 Big South)Location: Truist Point | High Point, N.C. How It Happened
T1: Taking advantage of a pair of free bases, High Point loaded the bases in the first inning and Christian Smith cleared them with a grand slam off the batter's eye.
B1: Fighting its way back, Upstate scratched four runs of its own in the first. Scott Campbell and Johnny Sweeney sent back-to-back doubles into the leftfield corner, driving home one and two, respectively. Gage Griggs tied the game with his sacrifice squeeze, scoring Sweeney from third.
T2: High Point pushed itself back out in front, scoring thrice in the second. Landon Johnson drove home two with a single up the middle before a walk with the bases loaded to Smith added another.
B3: Scoring one back up the middle, Jake Armsey picked up an RBI as his single knocked in Campbell.
B6: Battling back to regain the lead, Upstate took advantage of High Point dipping into its bullpen, hanging six runs in the sixth. Campbell drove home the first with a single into center with the bases juiced before a walk to Sweeney tied things up. Scott Newman delivered the lead with a sac fly to center followed by a two-run double off the wall in left-center added two insurance runs. Gage Griggs beat out a double on a high pop-up on the infield, sending home the Spartans' final run of the frame.
T7: Getting a run back, High Point's Three Hillier slugged a solo shot to right.
B7: Answering the Panther long ball, Henry Zenor launched his own solo homer to rightfield, his second of the week.
T8: Trimming the Spartans' advantage, the Panthers used a sac fly from Brayden Simpson to scratch their lone run of the stanza.
B8: Adding another RBI to his daily total, Lucas tripled to dead center, scoring Sweeney from first.
Notable
Earning its way to the Big South Tournament Championship Game via its semifinal win Friday, Upstate qualified for its third straight Big South Tournament Championship Game.
With its victory Friday, Upstate secured its fifth straight 35-win season, the longest streak of 35-win seasons in program history. The win also makes head coach Kane Sweeney the winningest first-year head coach in program history, breaking a tie with John Daurity (34 in 1986).
Totaling three RBI Friday against High Point, Johnny Sweeney became the first Spartan to break the 80-RBI barrier in a single season, claiming the program's single-season RBI record, ending the day with 81. He broke a tie with Grant Sherrod (78 in 2024) for the record.
Drawing a walk in the first inning, Vance Sheahan improved his reached base streak to 45 games, the longest known streak in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.).
Up Next for the SpartansAdvancing to its third consecutive Big South Tournament Championship Game, USC Upstate continues its quest for a Big South Tournament Title Saturday at noon. The Spartans' opponent is yet to be determined, but the game features on ESPN+ and CW-62.
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