USC Upstate took a 2-0 lead in its half of the third. A hit and error put the first two runners on. Groundouts from Casey Rivers and Andrew Runion plated both.

     Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) lined a one-out single in the third. Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) followed with a blast high into the trees beyond the left field fence. His fourth home run this year tied the score at 2-all.

     With two down A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) and Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. That is when the umpires halted the game due to rain, which lasted 98 minutes.

     Shehan came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth. He beat out a potential double play which scored a run for a 3-2 lead. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) hit his fourth homer of the season, a solo shot to right field.

     The Spartans scored twice in the sixth to tie the game, but Shehan went deep again. The junior right-fielders solo shot (his first-ever two home run game, and team-leading fifth this year) with two down helped GS regain a 5-4 lead.

     USC Upstate took the lead in the seventh, scoring twice. With a runner at third and two outs, Wirnsberger made a diving stop to his left at third base and threw onto first to save another run and end the frame.

     That was the momentum shift Georgia Southern needed. Starting with Wirnsberger, the Eagles had five straight singles, a walk, a 3-run double from Porter and two more walks – all without recording an out. Benedict and Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) recorded a RBI single during the stretch of five straight singles. Porter came within inches of his first career grand slam, hitting a bases clearing double off the top of the left centerfield fence.

     Upstate threatened in the eighth, scoring two runs. Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine Military) entered the game. The Spartans loaded the bases with two outs, having the go-ahead run at the plate, but Kyle Bowley fouled out to Parker at first base to end the threat.

     Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) recorded a career-high four hits in as many at-bats. Porter had three hits and drove in three. Shehan recorded four RBI and scored twice. Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill) recorded his first career win despite allowing four runs (three earned) in 1.1 innings. Kamppi gave up one hit in two scoreless innings. He fanned two without issuing a walk.

     Eric Guillen had three of the Spartans’ hits. Dennis McCraney (0-2) gave up five runs on five hits without recording an out in the seventh.

     The series finale takes place Wednesday afternoon, first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.