Phillips tosses complete game shutout as USC Upstate defeats Winthrop 7-0 in Big South Tournament
HIGH POINT, N.C. (USC Upstate SID) – Beginning its quest for a Big South Tournament championship, USC Upstate baseball opened the 2025 iteration of the event with a statement as Amp Phillips turned in the league's first nine-inning complete game shutout of the season, leading the Spartans to a 7-0 quarterfinal over No. 5 seed Winthrop. Setting the tone, the redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher from Lancaster, S.C., proved why he was named the Big South Newcomer of the Year, retiring the first seven batters he faced and permitting just five baserunners, one of which reached scoring position, advancing no further than second base. He finished the afternoon scattering four hits while striking out five in his first career complete game. Backing the stellar pitching performance, Upstate launched four home runs, including three homers to lead off innings. Redshirt freshman leftfielder Henry Zenor, sophomore shortstop Vance Sheahan, redshirt sophomore centerfielder Scott Newman, and junior second baseman Gage Griggs hit long balls for the Spartans with Zenor, Sheahan, and Griggs leading off innings. Game InformationScore: No. 1 USC Upstate 7; No. 5 Winthrop 0Records: USC Upstate (34-23; 19-5 Big South); Winthrop (30-28; 13-11 Big South)Location: Truist Point | High Point, N.C. How It Happened
B1: Stepping to the plate as Upstate's leadoff batter in the home half of the first, Henry Zenor launched a hanging 3-2 breaking ball over the wall and right, delivering an early 1-0 lead.
B2: Following a leadoff double from Preston Lucas, the Spartans employed a pair of sacrifices to push across their second tally. A sac bunt from Gage Griggs moved Lucas to third with a sac fly from Jake Armsey scoring the run.
B6: Doubling its lead, Upstate used a pair of solo shots in the sixth, tacking on two more. Leading off the inning, Vance Sheahan launched one into the seats in left before Scott Newman launched one well past the wall in left-center.
B7: Hitting another 'leadoff' homer for the Spartans, Gage Griggs unloaded on a 1-0 pitch as his solo homer began a two-run frame. A sac fly from Zenor pushed across Armsey to tally Upstate's sixth run.
B8: Slapping a single into leftfield, Lucas recorded an RBI as his base hit scored Johnny Sweeney from second, capping the day's scoring.
Notable
Earning the Big South's first nine-inning complete game shutout of the season, Amp Phillips' outing Thursday in Upstate's Big South Tournament opener marked the first complete-game shutout in the tournament since Gardner-Webb's Joe Simone against UNC Asheville on May 25, 2022.
Earning the team's 34th victory of the season, Upstate's win total ties head coach Kane Sweeney for the winningest first-year head coach in program history, equalling the 1986 win total of John Daurity.
Hitting a solo shot in the sixth inning, Vance Sheahan improved his reached base streak to 44 games, extending the longest-known streak in the program's Division I era (2007-pres.).
Up Next for the SpartansFollowing its Big South Tournament opener, USC Upstate returns to action Friday morning as play at the event continues. The Spartans face No. 2 High Point at 11 a.m.
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