Max Kaplan, a right‑handed pitcher for USC Upstate, has been named the Big South Conference’s Starting Pitcher of the Week for the second time in his career, underscoring his steady rise in collegiate baseball.
Dominant Performance Against Presbyterian
In his most recent start, Kaplan threw a complete game, allowing only five hits while surrendering a single earned run. He recorded seven strikeouts and issued just one walk, demonstrating a commanding mix of velocity and control.
The early portion of the game was especially impressive; Kaplan retired the first nine batters he faced and carried a perfect game into the fourth inning, putting immediate pressure on the opposition.
When a run did score in the fourth, Kaplan responded by stranding two runners, preserving the shutout threat and keeping his team’s momentum alive.
From the sixth inning onward, he faced only one batter over the minimum, inducing his team‑leading ninth double play of the season, and closed the game by retiring the final five hitters he encountered.
The performance not only secured the weekly accolade but also reinforced Kaplan’s role as a cornerstone of USC Upstate’s rotation as the team heads into the latter stretch of its schedule.
Looking Ahead
With the honor fresh in mind, Kaplan and the Spartans aim to translate this momentum into a strong finish to the season, targeting deeper playoff runs and continued dominance on the mound.