SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Despite jumping out to an early three-run lead through as many innings, Penn (1-8, 0-0 Ivy) struggled to hold off USC Upstate (7-6-1, 0-0 ASUN) in the final six frames, falling to the Spartans by a 5-3 mark on Friday evening. The early hitting streak by the Quakers, boosted by RBIs from juniors Sean Phelan and Matt McGeagh along with freshman Brendan Bean, fizzled late behind the relief pitching efforts of the USC Upstate bullpen, leading to Penn's sixth consecutive loss on the year.

USC Upstate 5, Penn 3
WP: Grant Hoppock (3-1)
LP: Christian Scafidi (0-2)
SV: Sean Hupp (3)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The offensive slump Penn suffered through at Furman during the midweek series ended quickly Friday afternoon, as the Quaker bats connected early and often against USC Upstate. Sophomore Chris Adams started the game off with a double and, after freshman Eduardo Malinowski laid down a sacrifice bunt, was driven in by Phelan. Bean plated the junior first-basemen two at-bats later with a double of his own, helping Penn out to the 2-0 advantage. McGeagh would strike later in the third, scoring Malinowski with a single through the left gap. The Quakers' lead failed to hold up for long, though, as the Spartans knotted the score during a three-run stretch in the fourth, jumped ahead with a score in the fifth and tacked on an insurance run to close out the sixth.

Penn starter Christian Scafidi dominated Spartan batters through three of his five and one-third innings, surrendering just two hits during that span. The fourth and fifth frames proved troubling, though, as the sophomore right-hander gave up the lead before freshman Robby Cerulle took over in relief. The USC Upstate order would face another two pitchers from the Penn bullpen, as Jacob Sadowitz handled the seventh and Dylan Mulvihill closed out the eighth. Spartan starter Blake Whitney was pulled in the fourth after surrendering three runs, but the Quakers struggled against his three replacements, with Grant Hoppock tossing three innings while both Caleb Matthews and Sean Hupp pitched a frame each.

NEXT UP
The Quakers take on USC Upstate in the second matchup of the series Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. before wrapping up the three-game stretch with another matchup later that night, as inclement weather has shifted game three up one day.