TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University baseball team battled in a tight game early, ultimately falling 7-1 after the Spartans broke the game open.
USC Upstate (1-0) started the scoring in the bottom of the third on a fielder's choice groundout. The Spartans extended that lead to three in the fifth, then further to seven in the sixth inning. Towson (0-1) got on the board with a run in the top of the seventh but couldn't tighten the deficit beyond that.
Key Stats:
- Towson put up seven hits in the game, including two multi-hit games. Bryce Frederick finished with two singles and reached base a third time on a fielding error. Casey Bishop notched two singles from the nine-hole in four at-bats.
- Despite holding the Spartans to one run through four innings, Justin Rebok took the loss. He recorded five strikeouts and surrendered three runs through 4.1 innings pitched.
- For USC Upstate, Daniel Gernon finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Starter Reese Dutton registered the win, finishing with six strikeouts and zero runs. Jake Cubbler surrendered Towson's run on a Brian Heckelman RBI single.
How it Happened:
- Daniel Gernon singled to left in the bottom of the third, the Spartans' first base runner of the game. A ground out to short by Cole Caruso scored Gernon after two wild pitches.
- Gernon doubled with a runner on first in the bottom of the fifth, and a fielding error brought home the second run for the Spartans. Gernon scored from third on a groundout to second by Caruso for a 3-0 USC Upstate score.
- J.D. Brock doubled through the right side with runners on first and third, extending the lead to 4-0. Noah Sullivan and Gernon walked on back-to-back at-bats, sending home a fifth run. Adam Grob singled up the middle with two strikes, sending home two more for the home team.
- Jordan Peyton singled up the middle and advanced to second on a balk in the top of the seventh. Brian Heckelman's single to left sent home Peyton to put the Tigers on the board.
- Jordan Luton and Matt Lynch held the Spartans scoreless through the final two innings of the game.
- The Tigers got an opportunity late with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth but were unable to cut into the Spartans' lead.
Inside the Numbers:
- Bryce Frederick had his first multi-hit game since March 26 of last year, one of his final games before his season-ending injury.
- Freshman Brian Heckelman picked up an RBI single in his first-ever collegiate game.
On Deck for the Tigers:
Towson returns to Harley Park tomorrow to face off with USC Upstate at 2 p.m. Following the game, the Tigers will cross town to play Southern Illinois at 6 p.m. at Wofford's Russell C. King Field.