SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate scored four runs in the first inning and held off Charleston Southern down the stretch for an 11-6 win in midweek action on Wednesday night at Harley Park.  

Upstate starter Cody Brittan (W, 2-0) helped himself, hitting a three-run home run in the first off of CSU starter Kyle Dyson (L, 1-2), The Spartans added five more runs in the fourth to build a 9-2 lead for Upstate (18-20). Dan Fickas had a two-run triple in the to key the fourth.  

CSU cut a 4-0 lead in half in the othird on a two-run home run by Brandon Gragilla, his first of the season.  

The Buccaneers tried to climb back into the game down the stretch. Ryan Maksim went 3-for-5 and had a two-run single during the four-run seventh. Mason McClellan had a pinch-hit RBI single in the innings as CSU cut the lead to five. 

Upstate's Charlie Carpenter was 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Five Spartans had a multi-hit game.  

Chayce Hubbard and Wil Hartsell each pitched a scoreless inning out of the CSU bullpen.  

CSU opens a three-game series at Gardner-Webb on Friday night. First pitch is at 6 p.m. 

-CSU-