The Upstate Spartans delivered a landmark performance on Tuesday night, capturing their inaugural NCAA Tournament victory with an 8-5 win over Oklahoma State.
A dominant start and steady pressure
From the opening inning the Spartans never trailed, establishing a three‑run cushion that set the tone for the contest.
Key contributions came from a lineup that blended power and precision: Wylie Waters sparked the offense with a ground‑rule double that plated the fourth run, while Jake Armsey’s RBI single in the third broke a brief deadlock.
Relief pitcher Max Bianchini entered in the sixth and shut down the Cowboys’ rally, preserving the lead through three scoreless innings.
Preston Lucas added insurance with a two‑run single in the eighth, and the bullpen capped the night when Jacob Kirby struck out the final two batters.
The defensive gem came when Kollin Ritchie, Oklahoma State’s top hitter, was coaxed into a groundout by Bianchini, ending a late threat.
Coach Kane Sweeney’s 70th career win tied him with John Daurity for the most victories by an Upstate skipper in his first two seasons.