CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern will turn its focus back to the Big South side of things as it travels to Spartanburg to take on USC Upstate in a three-game conference set on the road. The action starts Thursday, April 14 with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch followed by a 6:00 p.m. start Friday, April 15 and a 2:00 p.m. first pitch Saturday, April 16.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday, April 14
Charleston Southern (14-19, 6-6 Big South) at USC Upstate (18-15, 7-5 Big South)
6:00 p.m. * Spartanburg, S.C. * Harley Park * Live Stats * Watch
Projected Starters: CSU RHP Daniel Padysak (1-1, 5.03 ERA) vs. USC Upstate RHP Jacob Curry (2-2, 6.18 ERA)
 
Friday, April 15
Charleston Southern at USC Upstate
6:00 p.m. * Spartanburg, S.C. * Harley Park * Live Stats
Projected Starters: CSU LHP Kaleb Hill (3-3, 4.39 ERA) vs. USC Upstate RHP Austin Morgan (3-2, 7.22 ERA)
 
Saturday, April 16
Charleston Southern at USC Upstate
2:00 p.m. * Spartanburg, S.C. * Harley Park * Live Stats
Projected Starters: CSU RHP Evan Truitt (1-3, 4.91 ERA) vs. USC Upstate LHP Trey Miller (1-3, 5.59 ERA)
 
LOOKIN' BACK
Charleston Southern's campaign in the early going has been highlight by a set of runs, dropping its first four before running off eight-straight to turn the tide. After the conclusion of the win-streak, the Bucs have dropped their last seven contests.
 
The slate started with an Opening Weekend affair at 5^th-ranked Ole Miss, where the Rebels took all three tilts in Oxford. CSU then played host to The Citadel in a mid-week contest, where the Bulldogs used two grand slams to best the Bucs.
 
The Buccaneers turned the tide after dropping the first four, completing a four-game sweep of Delaware State, evening the season series with The Citadel and besting Villanova in another mid-week affair before hosting Southern Conference member Samford at Nielsen Field. CSU took the first two contests of a three-game set to clinch the series before dropping the finale.
 
Kansas then came to the Lowcountry for a two-game set and used a strong offensive output to claim both wins before Canisius was next on the ledger for Charleston Southern. The Golden Griffins come to Nielsen Field and left with all three tilts in a series where CSU struggled on the mound throughout the weekend. Saint Mary's was the latest of Charleston Southern's opponents, coming Nielsen Field and leaving with a 9-5 victory.
 
Charleston Southern was able to open the Big South slate with some noise, taking two of three from Radford at home to open the Big South slate. Radford took the opener before the CSU offense exploded for 13 runs in game two to even the series. The rubber match went extras as the Buccaneers scored four runs in the eighth before a Dylan Stewart infield single scored Ajay Sczepkowski in the tenth to walk it off.
 
Mercer stood as the next task for the Bucs in a midweek affair, as the Bears used a strong effort in the closing innings to outlast CSU 10-2 before a Big South trip to UNC Asheville spelled three loses. Charleston Southern held the lead in the eighth inning or later in two of the three contests with the Bulldogs, but each time UNC Asheville was able to answer the call with clutch at-bats in the eighth frame.
 
After an affair with Atlantic Coast Conference member Georgia Tech, Charleston Southern was able to bounce back in a big way. A three-game sweep of North Carolina A&T at Nielsen Field has the CSU lineup clicking on all cylinders as we have reached the heart of the Big South season. It was a masterpiece of a weekend all around for the Bucs, as the rotation looked as strong as they have all year to add to an offensive-minded lineup and an effective bullpen.
 
Charleston Southern was then tasked with making the most of an Energy Sunday at Winthrop after dropping the first two of the weekender. The late game heroics of Nicholas Fazzari and Ajay Sczepkowski were fueled seven runs in the final two frames to come away with the 14-11 win and avoid the sweep on the road.
 
FAZZARI FAR FROM QUIET
Nicholas Fazzari found his way back into the lineup after missing time due to an injury down the stretch of the early season last weekend at Winthrop and certainly made the most of it. In just two games this weekend, Fazzari went a total of 6-11 in a big spot the whole weekend. On Sunday, Fazzari hit the solo shot to start the comeback bid in the ninth and came up even bigger in the tenth with a go-ahead double.
 
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
USC Upstate comes into the weekender with an 18-15 overall record, 7-5 in the Big South after dropping all three of a three-game set at Campbell a weekend ago. The Spartans have dropped six-straight contests, including a midweek contest at home with Clemson Tuesday.
 
Series wins include Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Presbyterian, Radford and High Point while USC Upstate also sports midweek wins over ACC member Boston College, Cincinnati, The Citadel and Western Carolina.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The two sides have met a total of 26 times, with USC Upstate laying claim to 14 of those even though Charleston Southern has taken the last two meetings. The Bucs sport six of the last seven meetings, the lone loss coming in the opener of the series a season ago. Charleston Southern was able to bounce back and take the final two contests and the series.
 
UP NEXT
Charleston Southern will stay in the Holy City for its next affair after the USC Upstate series, traveling down to The Joe to take on The Citadel. The midweek affair is slated for a 6:00 first pitch Wednesday, April 20 and serves as the rubber match between the two clubs.