Box score
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Three errors by the Northern Kentucky University baseball team were costly as South Carolina Upstate rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Norse at the Cleveland S. Harley Park on Friday evening.
NKU (3-23 overall, 1-4 Atlantic Sun Conference) jumped on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning when
Brett Cisper stole third base and then scored on a throwing error by catcher Luke Weber. The Spartans, however, answered in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1-all.
The Norse came back with two runs in the fifth to regain the lead.
Logan Spurlin singled to right center to start the offense and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Hunter Morey. He reached third base on a wild pitch and scored when
Pat Hyde singled up the middle.
Back-to-back singles by
Bradley Vanderglas and
Brad Clement allowed Hyde to score and gave the Norse a 3-1 lead.
USC Upstate (14-11 overall, 3-5 A-Sun) answered the Norse with two more runs to even the game once again. The Spartans capitalized on a fielding error and two throwing miscues by the Norse to bring home their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-3 advantage.
Morey and
Josh Myers were walked and Hyde drew a walk to load the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. Vanderglas was hit by an Erik Samples pitch to bring Morey home and cut the USC Upstate lead to one (5-4).
Chad Sobokta took over for the mound and ended the NKU threat with the bases still loaded.
Brett Loeding retired the final six Spartan batters in order, including three strikeouts, but Sobokta did not allow the Norse to reach base.
Brandon Patterson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Spartan attack, while Weber finished 2-for-4.
David Roseboom (5-1) gave up three earned runs on six hits to earn the win for USC Upstate. He recorded nine strikeouts and three walks, while Sobokta pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief and struck out five of the eight NKU batters he faced for his fourth save of the season.
Hyde led the Norse offense, going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Clement went 2-for-4 with an RBI as well.
Matt Jefferson (0-6) recorded five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings on the mound for NKU. He surrendered three earned runs on seven hits.
The three-game series between NKU and USC Upstate concludes with a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday. Live stats, broadcast and ASun.TV information are available at NKUNorse.com.
