After rallying from a 4-1 deficit in the sixth inning with four runs in the top of seventh to take a 5-4 lead, the Presbyterian College baseball team gave up two in the bottom of the seventh and two in the eighth to fall, 8-5, to USC Upstate this afternoon in action at Harley Park in Spartanburg, S.C., as part of the Marriott Baseball Classic hosted by the Spartans.
The Blue Hose fell for the first time this season and went to 4-1 on the year. The Spartans improved to 4-2.
After a scoreless four innings, Tyler Hill (Goose Creek, S.C.) led off the fifth inning with a double to right field and came home when Gabe Grammer (Irmo, S.C.) singled to left, giving the Blue Hose their first run of the game.
The Spartans were able to take the lead thanks to a four-run sixth inning. With Austin Liput and Trey Richardson on first and second respectively, Grason Wiggins hit a sacrifice bunt allowing the pair to score.
Trey Richardson scored on a RBI groundout by Dillon Way to tie the game at one. Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C.) drove in Liput to put USCU ahead 2-1. Luke Weber drove in Miller and later scored as he stole third and the ball sailed past PC's Hill, allowing Weber to score.
The Blue Hose posted their own four run inning as they tacked on four in the top of the seventh. The first three out of four batters walked to lead off the inning and a single by Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill, S.C.) drove in two runs, while a two-RBI single by Tony Micklon (Sumter, S.C.) plated the other two to give PC the 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Way delivered a two-out two RBI single to left center putting the Spartans ahead 6-5. Upstate would not relinquish the lead as they added on two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Both starting pitchers received no decisions as Scott DeCecco pitched six complete innings allowing just one run on four hits and recorded four strikeouts. Meanwhile, PC starter Buck Mosteller (Woodruff, S.C.) went 5.2 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits.
Upstate reliever Chris Knauff picked up the win and sits 1-1 on the season after pitching two-thirds of an inning, allowing zero runs on two hits. Jordan Rusk picked up his first save of 2011 after pitching the final two innings, giving up just two hits while striking out three. Steve Richardson (Howe, Texas) took the loss to go 0-1 on the year, pitching 1.0 innings and giving up two runs.
The Spartans were led at the plate by Liput and Miller. Liput and Miller each had two hits and one run, while Miller also had one RBI.
Zebedis and Micklon paced PC, both going two-for-five with two RBI.
The Blue Hose stay in Spartanburg and take on the Wofford Terriers at King Field Saturday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.
