While South Carolina and North Carolina were locked in a pitcher’s duel in Charlotte, Clemson and USC-Upstate were showing the fans how much fun you can have at home plate. The Tigers and Spartans combined to hit eight home runs, with USC-Upstate having the last laugh in a 9-5 victory at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday night.
With all fourteen runs coming via the long ball, it was Koby Kropf’s grand slam in the eighth inning that proved to be the game-winner for Upstate. The blast broke a 5-5 tie and helped snap Clemson’s six-game winning streak. For the Spartans, the upset of the second-ranked Tigers is the highest-ranked win in the program’s D1 history.
Noah Sullivan started the home run derby with a leadoff shot in the second to put the Spartans on the scoreboard. Then Nolan Nawrocki belted a solo homer, his fourth of the season, in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at a run apiece. Jacob Jarrell gave Clemson the lead in the third inning with a leadoff home run, before Sullivan answered with another solo homer in the fourth inning to tie the score at two.
In the sixth inning, Tyler Lang hit an 0-2 pitch over the fence in left field for a three-run homer with two outs to give USC Upstate a 5-2 lead. Cam Cannarella followed suit with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, just ahead of Jimmy Obertop’s game-tying shot to right centerfield.
The Spartans regained the lead in the eighth inning after loading the bases with no outs. Kropf launched his grand slam over the fence in left-center to put the visitors ahead for good.
Jake Cubbler (2-1) earned the win, while Justin LeGuernic (0-1) suffered the loss.
The Tigers host NC State in a three-game series, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.