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Trace Hatfield at USC Upstate
Jarred Bradley
Trace Hatfield had two hits on Opening Day in Toledo's 14-2 loss at USC Upstate.
2
University of Toledo TOLEDO 0-1
14
Winner USC Upstate UPST 1-0
University of Toledo TOLEDO
0-1
2
Final
14
USC Upstate UPST
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
University of Toledo TOLEDO 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 4 3
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 0 6 0 6 2 0 X 14 17 2

W: MARKS, Jordan (1-0) L: Jefferson, Wyatt (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Toledo Falls to USC Upstate, 14-2

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of Toledo baseball team opened its 2021 season with a 14-2 loss at USC Upstate on Friday.

"That certainly was not what we were expecting when we woke up and came to the ballpark," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "Their starter is a real Friday night ace, but lots of teams have good Friday guys and we have to learn from this. I still like this team and today was not at all indicative of what or who we are as a team. Baseball is a great game because we get to come back tomorrow, play like we are capable, and even the series."

After a scoreless first three innings, Upstate plated six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a commanding lead it would not relinquish. The Spartans added six more in the sixth and two in the seventh to spoil Toledo's 2021 opener.

Trace Hatfield went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk and scored a run, while Mason Sykes and Nicky Winterstein provided the other hits for Toledo. Opening Day starter Wyatt Jefferson threw 3.1 innings on Friday and was one of six pitchers to see time on the mound. Nate Haugh and Connor Brandon made appearances out of the bullpen, as Nate Boyle, Cal McAninch, and Sam Servello, the latter three making their Toledo debuts.

These two teams will meet again on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

How it Happened

  • USC Upstate drew first blood in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 6-0 lead. The scoring began with a bases-loaded RBI single from Jack Hennessy, then Jason Matthews cleared the bases in the next at-bat with a double into the gap in left-center field. Matthews came around to score on a double down the left field line by Devin Buckner. The final run came in to score on a two-out Toledo error to bring Upstate's fourth-inning total to six runs.
  • Toledo's first run of the day came via a pair of miscues from the Spartans. Trace Hatfield advanced to third on an errant throw from the pitcher after a pickoff attempt, then scored on the same play after the throw to third sailed wide and into the dugout. Hatfield was awarded home and put Toledo on the scoreboard, making it 6-1.
  • Upstate added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth with six more runs, including a two-run homer from Noah Rabon, putting the score at 12-1.
  • The Spartans made it 14-1 with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh.
  • The Rockets got their second run of the afternoon on a pinch-hit single from Winterstein, that drove in Sykes, who had reached base in the previous at-bat with a double down the line in left field
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