USC Upstate

Who: USC Upstate
When: Tuesday, April 4
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: Childress Field, Cullowhee, NC
TV/video: ESPN+
       -announcer: Daniel Hooker (PxP)
Live Stats: WCU Live Stats
Conference: Big South
Nickname: Spartans
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Type: Public
Colors: Green & Gray
Students: 5,996

This year's record: 18-11, 11-6 home, 6-4 away, 1-1 neutral, 5-1 Big South

Head Coach: Mike McGuire is in his fourth season as the head baseball coach at USC Upstate. McGuire's overall record: 471-329-1; 15th season

The Series: Western is 8-3 overall vs. USC Upstate in a series first played in 1986. The Cats are 4-1 overall vs. the Spartans in games played in Cullowhee.

For the second straight year, the Spartans were picked second in the Big South preseason poll. With 35 wins in 2022, Upstate has won 72 games over the past two seasons, and of the 35 wins last season, three came against Power-Five opponents as the Spartans beat Boston College, Ohio State, and South Carolina.

During head coach Mike McGuire's tenure at Upstate (2020-pres.), the Spartans have proven one of the top offensive teams in the Big South. The Spartans return two hitters who garnered All-Big South honors last season, returning the Big South Freshman of the Year Noah Sullivan and First Team All-Conference outfielder Noah Rabon.

On the mound, Upstate ranked top-three in the league in six statistical categories, leading the conference in walks allowed per nine innings (4.40) and ranking second in earned run average (5.87), hits allowed per nine innings (9.78), shutouts (two), and WHIP (1.58).

This season, the Spartans have wins over Clemson, has won a three-game series vs. CAA's James Madison (2-1), beat the Citadel 25-10, and beat Cincinnati and Princeton. Western split a two-game series with Upstate last season, with both teams winning at home.

Projected starters:
Western Carolina - LHP Kyle Riesselmann (1-1; 5.33 ERA)
USC Upstate - RHP Caleb Costa (0-0; 7.36 ERA)