SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Wednesday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 2-0 by USC Upstate at Harley Park. In a game dominated by pitching, there were 19 combined strikeouts and only 13 total hits in the contest.
 
Wofford is 7-2 on the season, while USC Upstate is also 7-2 overall. The teams split the season series this year, with the Terriers winning the first meeting this season 6-3 at Russell C. King Field. Wofford was held to four hits, one each by Alec Paradowski, Carson Waln, Alex Malsch, and Demetrius Jennings. The Spartans were led by pitcher Zach Mitchell with ten strikeouts and only two hits allowed.
 
The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the first inning, while the Spartans left one runner on base after a double. Both teams went down in order in the second inning. With one out in the top of the third, Alex Malsch had the first hit of the day for the Terriers, but a double play ended the top half. The Spartans had back-to-back singles in the bottom of the third inning for runners on the corners with two outs, but were unable to score.
 
Alec Paradowski singled to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Wofford, but he failed to advance. The Spartans were retired in order on three ground balls in the bottom of the fourth. The lead-off batter in the bottom of the fifth reached on an error and with one out the Spartans added a single. A single by Daniel Fickas drove in the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead at the end of five innings.
 
To start the sixth inning, Alex Malsch reached on an error and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Alec Paradowski was hit by a pitch, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the scoring chance. The Spartans led off the bottom of the sixth with a double and added a single for runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly by Jaden Savage gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead before a strikeout ended the inning.
 
Brett Hash walked to begin the seventh inning, however a pair of strikeouts and a ground out sent the game to the stretch. The Spartans left one runner on base in the bottom half after a single. Demetrius Jennings singled for the Terriers in the top of the eighth and Alec Paradowski hit into a fielder's choice. Carson Waln had a pinch hit single up the middle before a strikeout ended the top half.
 
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, the Spartans added a single but were unable to build on the lead. In the top of the ninth inning, the Terriers were retired in order to end the contest.
 
In his first career start, Wofford pitcher Austin Higginbotham (0-1) went 4.2 innings and allowed one unearned run on five hits. He struck out four batters and did not issue a walk. Jordan Accetta threw 2.1 ininngs with one run allowed on three hits and two strikeouts. Spencer Kulman went the final inning with one hit and one strikeout. Wofford was shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since the final two contests of the 2011 season (May 21 and 22) against UNC Greensboro.
 
Zach Mitchell (3-0) started for USC Upstate and went seven scoreless innings. He struck out ten batters and only walked one, with only two hits allowed. Kevin Hickey worked two-thirds of an inning with a pair of hits allowed and a strikeout. Richie Lacell threw the final 1.1 innings without allowing a hit and one strikeout to earn his third save of the year.
 
The Terriers will host Ohio University for a four-game weekend series beginning on Friday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. The teams will play twice on Saturday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and once on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.