SPARTANBURG, SC – Monmouth University Baseball (2-3) held an early lead, but a big inning from USC Upstate (4-1) gave the Spartans the win on Friday, 6-3 in Spartanburg, SC.
Zach Schild (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) drove in two in the loss for Monmouth.
An error, a single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Blue and White in the first before Schild delivered with a two-run single to spark MU to a 2-0 lead.
Robbie Holmes (Bernardsville, NJ/Bernards) would come across on another error to make it 3-0 quickly.
Dan Klepchick (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) was clean through five, allowing just two hits and posting three 1-2-3 innings while retiring eight in a row at one point. The Spartans struck in the sixth, with two walks beginning the rally before Devin Buckner singled home a run, with another coming across on the play via error. Julian Rip's RBI single tied the game, and the lead run came across on an error before the home team tacked on a pair of insurance runs to lead 6-3, the eventual final.
NOTES AND QUOTES
"Tough one today. We didn't do a very good job of limiting Upstate's free bases. There was about a 10-12 pitch span in the sixth that did us in. Tomorrow will be a good indication of our toughness and resiliency." – Head Coach
Dean Ehehalt
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Colin McCreary has a hit in every game he has played in this season.
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Zach Schild has now recorded a hit in all three of his starts.
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Johnny Zega ran his season-opening hit streak to five.
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Matt Graber has also begun the season on a five-game hitting streak.
-Zega's stolen base made MU 5-for-6 in the stolen base department this season.
-Only one of Monmouth's six runs allowed was earned.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-The teams combined for just 11 hits, with the Spartans notching six and Monmouth five.
-There were only runs scored in two half innings in the game.
-The teams combined for five errors.
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Dan Klepchick took the loss, allowing just one earned run on three hits through 5.1 innings.
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Ryan Steckline did not allow an earned run in 2.2 relief innings.
-USC Upstate starter Jordan Marks earned the win with 7.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts.
UP NEXT
-Monmouth remains in Spartanburg tomorrow to take on Presbyterian, with first pitch slated for 12:00 p.m.
