March 9, 2008

Final Stats

MACON, Ga. - Senior Scott Eckard (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary) pitched 8 1/3 innings, shutting down Mercer from the third to eighth innings, allowing just two hits and a walk during that span, to end a five-game skid for the USC Upstate baseball team, as Upstate posted a 7-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader in Atlantic Sun Conference play at Claude Smith Field on Sunday. The Spartans fell in the first game of the doubleheader, 5-1.

Senior Andrew Runion (Simpsonville, S.C./Mauldin) led the Spartans in the doubleheader, going 3-for-6 with two runs and three RBIs. He added his 11th career homer in the first game and also reached base three times by walking.

Eckard, who allowed six hits, four walks and two runs, improved to 1-2 on the season as he won his 19th career game, tying a 19-year old school record set by Eric Hunter (1986-89). Eckard is now 19-13 in his career, where he is tied with Hunter (19-11) for the most wins in a career in school history.

"He's been one of our frontline starters since he's been here,"USC Upstate head coach Matt Fincher said. "He pitched very well (Sunday). Even though his two previous starts hadn't been his best, I felt very comfortable with him going out there. He changed speeds. He had three pitches going at times. He spotted his fastball well. I think he's a very deserving person to be the all-time winningest pitcher at USC Upstate."

Eckard walked the bases loaded with two outs in the first inning before getting out of the jam with a groundout, settling down to allow just one more walk and six hits in the next 7 1/3 innings.

"I still had trouble locating early, but it got a little easier as the game went on," Eckard said. "I'm still trying to find my mechanics and what-not, but it was a good day. Offensively and defensively, we played well. Runion was big for us all weekend. A.J. Clark came through with a big hit and the infield played solid. We had a lot of hard groundballs and they made the plays."

The Bears (7-5 overall, 4-2 A-Sun) drew first blood with a single tally in the second inning as Nick DiMauro scored on a fielder's choice, but Upstate (5-8 overall, 3-3 A-Sun) came right back with a run in the top of the third inning, as freshman Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern) singled up the middle to lead off, took third on a single to right by sophomore Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Starts Mill), and scored on a sac fly by junior Kyle Simpson (Lyman, S.C./Byrnes).

Upstate took the lead in the fifth inning as freshman Keith Bisgounis (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) singled past the pitcher, took second on a bunt single by Green, took third on a fly out by Tanner and scored on a sac fly from Simpson.

Nursing the 2-1 lead, Upstate squashed a Mercer rally in the sixth inning, as Tyler Brown doubled to right center with one out. After a walk, Eckard forced a grounder for a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners. He got out of the jam when the next batter grounded to third and Runion made a nice pick of a throw in the dirt to end the inning.

The Spartan defensive effort helped spur the offense in the eighth inning, as Tanner singled up the middle to lead off. After a sac bunt and a fly out, Runion was intentionally walked. After a pitching change, junior Phillip Morgan (Campobello, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) delivered a single over the second baseman to load the bases for freshman A.J. Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian), who delivered a shot just inside the third base line to score two runs.

The Spartans got back on the scoreboard in the ninth inning, as Bisgounis led off with a walk, Green laid down a perfect bunt to reach first and Simpson singled to center field to drive in Bisgounis. After a walk loaded the bases, Runion singled to left field to score Green and Simpson and give the Spartans a 7-1 lead.

The Bears scored a ninth inning run to chase Eckard from the hill, but freshman Robert Stegbauer (Hillsboro, Ohio/Lynchburg-Clay) shut the door by getting two quick outs when he entered the game.

Upstate posted 10 hits in the game, with Green providing three and Tanner posting two to lead the squad. Bisgounis and Green each scored twice. Simpson posted three RBIs and Runion and Clark each added two a piece.

Billy Shaughnessy was the only Bear to post two hits for Mercer.

John Hoelzer (1-2) took the loss for Mercer, as he allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. He struck out four.

Eight innings of four-hit baseball from Justin Boyette helped lift the Bears to a 5-1 win in the first game of the doubleheader.

Upstate got on the board in the first inning when Runion hit his second homer in as many days, delivering a powerful blow over the left field fence.

The Bears got even in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a leadoff single, a sac bunt and an RBI single to left field by Joe Winker.

Mercer took control in the third inning, scoring two runs thanks to a two-RBI single from Shaughnessy. The Bears got another run across in the fifth inning when Joe Winker scored on a single from John Dortch to take a 4-1 lead.

Upstate had a chance to dent the scoreboard in the sixth frame when it loaded the bases with two outs after freshman Blake Stickley (Weddington, N.C./Monroe) drew a walk, senior Casey Rivers (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) added a single and Runion walked, but a fly out to center ended the threat.

The Bears added another run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a walk and an RBI double from Winker, providing the final four-run difference.

Both Rivers and Runion posted two hits for the Spartans to make up all four hits, as Runion's homer added the only run and RBI.

Joe Winker went 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs and Matt Crawford, John Dortch and Nick DiMauro each added two hits for the Bears, who notched 13 singles in their 14-hit attack.

Boyette pitched eight innings to earn the win for the Bears, allowing four hits, two walks and one run. He struck out four.

Sophomore Matt Branham (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) (2-1) took the loss after going six innings and allowing 12 hits, two walks and five runs. He tied a season-high with six strikeouts. Junior Dennis McCraney (Catawba, S.C./Rock Hill) added two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two.

The Spartans will get back on the field on Tuesday when they head to Georgia Southern for the start of a two-game set, with Tuesday's game set for 6 p.m.