Bucs Look to Extend Win Streak vs. USC Upstate

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The CSU baseball team will look to extend their five game winning streak when they host the USC Upstate Spartans on Wednesday in a 2 p.m. contest at CSU Ballpark in Charleston, S.C. 

The Bucs vs. The Spartans
The Spartans are 4-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play with a 6-4 loss to ETSU on Friday.  The Spartans’ last two games were canceled due to inclement weather, but they will take on the College of Charleston on March 8.  Prior to Tuesday’s contest, USC Upstate is 0-2 on the road.  Thus far, USC has claimed wins over George Mason (16-4), Iona (9-5), Presbyterian (8-5) and NC A&T (12-7).   Despite both teams being located in the Palmetto State, the Bucs and the Spartans have only faced each other three times in school history, two of which came in the 2010 season.   The Spartans took the first ever meeting in 2009 by a score of 10-3, before the Bucs claimed the next two by scores of 8-4 and 8-5. 

Familiar Faces
The Bucs and the Spartans will share some common opponents this season.   CSU dropped a series 2-1 to the Atlantic Sun Conference to open the 2011 season, while USC took an 8-5 win over future Big South member Presbyterian.   Both teams will also face the College of Charleston and the Citadel in non-conference action. 

The Bigger the Better
The Bucs are currently fifth in the Big South with 12 stolen bases out of 17 attempts.  Brantley Meier leads the charge with six stolen bases, while Tom Burkett is second with two.   Walt Quattlebaum has also stolen a base this season.  However, the final three may surprise CSU fans:  6’2, 225 lb Nick Chinners, 6’3, 249 lb Derek Smith and 6’0, 215 lb Blake Hunt have all successfully stolen a base this season, with Hunt successfully stealing home

Bucs Put Up 10 -Run Inning
CSU put up a 10-run inning versus Siena College on Saturday, marking just the second time in the last 11 years they have managed to produce a double-digit inning.  The last time they were able to do so was Feb. 20, 2007 when they had ten runs in the second inning versus the College of Charleston. 

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