SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb baseball team dropped a pair of Big South Conference contests at USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon, falling by an 9-8 score in the first contest before dropping a 13-2 decision in the series finale.
 
Gardner-Webb (12-13, 11-6 Big South) saw its nine-game Big South win streak snapped, while USC Upstate (21-7, 13-7 Big South) moves into first place in the league standings.
 
GWU also had its seven-game win streak against the Spartans snapped, with Upstate's last win against the Runnin' Bulldogs before today taking place on March 13, 2016. 
 
GAME ONE
 
USC Upstate scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to hand Gardner-Webb a 9-8 loss in a game that's finish was delayed nearly 21 hours due to rain in the Spartanburg area.
 
With the score at 7-4 when play was halted Saturday, Gardner-Webb expanded its lead over USC Upstate shortly after play resumed on a RBI single to left field by Bo Rusher, giving the 'Dogs an 8-4 advantage.
 
The Spartans answered in the bottom half of the frame, scoring five runs with two outs to take the lead.  Jason Matthews drove in one run on a RBI single to left field, and an error by GWU third baseman Dom Peroni allowed an additional run to cross the plate bringing Upstate within two runs of the lead, setting up the go-ahead three run home run for Noah Rabon.
 
GWU attempted to tie the game in the top of the ninth, with Cam Pearcey reaching with a base knock up the middle, and later reached scoring position with two away, but USC Upstate closer Kevin Davis fanned pinch hitter Joe Brazil to end the game.
 
Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, scoring in the top of the first as an error by USC Upstate shortstop Matthews allowed Mitch McLendon to safely cross home plate after reaching base to lead off the inning on an error by right fielder Rabon.
 
The Spartans tied the game in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI triple by Matthews to set the score at 1-1.
 
GWU wasted little time reclaiming the lead in the top of the fourth inning, scoring on a RBI base hit by Eric Jones, followed by a two-run home run over the left field wall by Patrick Ferguson., giving the 'Dogs a 4-1 advantage.
 
Gardner-Webb expanded its lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run home run by Pearcey, his fourth home run of the season, and added one more run in the top of the sixth on a RBI double by Keiji Parkhurst to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 7-1 lead.
 
USC Upstate began to chip away at GWU's lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating one run on a RBI single by Adam Grob and two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a triple by Jeff Taylor to bring the Spartans within three runs at 7-4.
 
Gardner-Webb put a pair of runners on base with no outs in the top of the eighth before play was halted Saturday afternoon due to rain.
 
Gardner-Webb totaled 11 base hits throughout the game, led by Pearcey (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) and Joe Simone (3-for-4, 2B).
 
USC Upstate collected 11 hits, paced by Jack Gallagher (3-for-5).
 
Jake Cubbler (2-0) earned the win on the mound for the Spartans, working 1.1 scoreless innings, scattering two base hits with one strikeout.  Starter Nate Payne lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits with three strikeouts.  Davis recorded the final two outs to earn his fourth save of the season.
 
Kyle Skidmore (1-1) took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs, giving up two unearned runs on two hits while recording one out.  Starter Bobby Alcock worked four innings, giving up one run on two hits while fanning five batters.
 
GAME TWO
 
USC Upstate scored eight runs in the fifth inning to go on to take a 13-2 decision in Sunday's series finale.
 
Trailing 3-0 as play headed to the top of the third, GWU plated a pair of runs in the frame to pull within one run of Upstate's lead, scoring one as Ben LaSpaluto was able to score on an error by third baseman Rabon, followed by an RBI knock up the middle by Jones.
 
The Spartans scored twice in the bottom of the third and broke the contest open in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring eight runs on five hits to take a 13-2 lead.
 
GWU managed just three base hits in the game.
 
USC Upstate totaled 15 hits throughout the contest, paced by Jack Hennessy (3-for-5, 2 RBI).  All nine Spartans had at least one hit.
 
Kyle Ruehlman (1-1) took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing five earned runs on ten base hits with four strikeouts in four innings of work.
 
Sean Hupp (2-1) earned the win for the Spartans, allowing no runs or hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings from the bullpen.  Starter Trey Miller lasted 4.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs on three base hits with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium, opening a nine-game homestand Tuesday at 6:00 pm, hosting Winthrop in Big South Conference midweek action.