CHARLESTON – USC Upstate claimed the series opener by a final score of 22-4.
 
Charleston Southern was able to have the offense put up a quick two runs in the bottom of the first. Kain Collins drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Kaden Smith drove him home to scratch across the first of the day with a double past the third baseman and down the left field line. Smith moved to third on a passed ball and Chandler Tuupo scored him on a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
In the top of third, USC Upstate scored nine runs, taking the lead and stretching it out. A double scored the first two runs and a single to right tallied the next across the plate, giving them the advantage.
 
The Buccaneers were able to get one back in both the third and fourth. Tuupo had his second sacrifice fly of the day to score Collins after his leadoff single. Aidan McAskie had a solo home run to leadoff the fourth inning, sending the first pitch he saw over the fence in right field.
 
After this, it was all Spartans as they used a combination of walks, hit by pitches and hits to run up the scoreboard and get the win. Their pitching staff did not allow a Buccaneer to score the rest of the way as well.
 
The Buccaneers and Spartans will return to Nielsen Field @ CSU Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. with a chance to have the series clinched.