History made: USC Upstate upends Oklahoma State 8-5 in Tuscaloosa Regional for program’s first NCAA victory (VIDEO)

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Preston Lucas put the game out of reach with a two-run single in the eighth (Emma Hudson)

USC Upstate 8 – Oklahoma State 5
Game Summary

  • USC Upstate scored in each of the first four innings and picked up the first NCAA Regional victory in program history by knocking off second-seeded Oklahoma State 8-5 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday.
  • Oklahoma State, making its 51st NCAA Regional appearance, battled some early nerves as the Spartans plated three first-inning runs due to three walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Upstate extended its lead to 4-0 in the second when Wylie Waters doubled and scored on another wild pitch.
  • The Cowboys roared back with four runs in the home half of the second to knot the game up 4-4.
  • Upstate didn’t flinch, however, taking the lead right back in the third on Jake Armsey’s RBI single to right, chasing Cowboys starter Ethan Lund in the process.
  • The Spartans extended the lead to 6-4 after Oklahoma State opened the top of the fourth with consecutive errors.
  • Oklahoma State reliever Stormy Rhodes settled in after a sloppy start, retiring Upstate in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. But the Spartans’ lineup was relentless, and Preston Lucas’ eighth-inning single provided a pair of insurance runs.
  • The Cowboys tried to mount a comeback, loading the bases in the eighth and ninth innings, but were turned away each time. Max Bianchini (3 IP, 0 ER) induced an inning-ending ground ball in the eighth to hold the lead for closer Jacob Kirby. Kirby surrendered a pair of singles and a walk before fanning the final two batters to clinch the historic victory for Upstate.
  • The Spartans collected just six hits, but made them count and left just four runners on base. Upstate also played error-free baseball. By contrast, Oklahoma State stranded 13 runners and committed three errors.
  • USC Upstate advances to the Tuscaloosa Regional winners bracket and will play the winner of No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Alabama State at 7 p.m., Saturday.

Final Stats

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