March 27, 2008

Final Stats

CLINTON, S.C. - Freshman A.J. Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) threw 7 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and one run in his first collegiate start, leading the USC Upstate baseball program to a 5-1 win over Presbyterian on Thursday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex.

From the first two batters, which he struck out, Clark (2-0) was in complete control for the Spartans (12-13). He struck out four batters in the game and until the eighth inning when he gave up three singles with one out, no Blue Hose (7-15) runner got past second base.

It took the Spartan offense a while to heat up, as just one runner reached base in the first three innings before senior Andrew Runion (Simpsonville, S.C./Mauldin) scored the first run in the fourth inning. He singled with one out, moved to second on a single from junior Phillip Morgan (Campobello, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) and took third after senior Casey Rivers (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) was hit by a pitch. He scored on a ball that plopped in down the right field line by sophomore Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Stars Mill) for fielder's choice.

Upstate added two more runs in the fifth inning, as junior Eric Guillen (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks) reached on an error. A sac bunt and then a bunt single from junior Kyle Simpson (Lyman, S.C./Byrnes) moved Guillen to third. A fielder's choice scored Guillen and then Morgan lifted a ball to short right field that got past a diving right fielder and went for an RBI triple.

Two more runs crossed for Upstate in the seventh, as Simpson singled to left to lead off. He took second on a wild pitch but was caught on Runion's fielder's choice at third base. After a flyout, Runion took second on a fielder's choice, where he scored on a single to right by Rivers. Tanner followed with a single to move Rivers to third where freshman Keith Bisgounis (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) was able to hit a ball through the left side to score Rivers.

Presbyterian got its lone run in the eighth thanks to three singles and a fielder's choice, chasing Clark from the hill with the bases loaded.

Junior Justin Hayes (Mauldin, S.C./Mauldin) shut down the Blue Hose for the final four outs, forcing a groundball double play to end the game after two ninth-inning singles. He earned his fifth career save to move into the top 10 in school history.

Simpson and Morgan led the Spartans with three hits a piece with Simpson posting two bunt singles and Morgan adding an RBI. Rivers went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI to help pace Upstate's 14-hit attack. Seven different players singled for Presbyterian with Zac Rhinesmith posting the lone run.

Jesse Harmon (0-3) took the loss for Presbyterian, allowing two earned runs and seven hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out three.

The Spartans head back home for the first of a five-game homestand on Friday night when Atlantic Sun foe Jacksonville comes to Harley Park for a 6 p.m. game. The Spartans and Dolphins are tied for third in the conference with identical 7-5 records.