SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the rubber game of the series, Rutgers baseball fell to USC Upstate, 13-4, Sunday at Harley Park. The two teams split a Saturday doubleheader.
 
"The biggest takeaway from this series is that we have to get better in all areas," head coach Joe Litterio said. "The offense needs to do a better job producing runs and the pitchers need to go out and do their job. But it's not all on them, the defense is not making the plays and giving up extra outs. We need to put it all together."
 
Redshirt freshman Tim Dezzi reached base three times on two singles and a walk, scoring twice. Junior Kevin Welsh knocked in two on a pair of hits.
 
On the mound, junior Tevin Murray (0-3) worked two innings in the start. Both redshirt junior Steven Acosta and freshman Parker Scott worked two frames out of the bullpen.
 
The Scarlet Knights (3-9) scored right away with one in the first inning. Dezzi worked a two-out walk and moved up on a single by senior Tyler McNamara. Next up, Welsh delivered an RBI single to left to make it 1-0. However, the Spartans (7-8) plated three in the second inning and expanded with seven more in the third to open up the game.
 
RU posted two in the seventh, with Welsh and freshman Garrett French both knocking runs. In the ninth, freshman Andy Axelson recorded his first collegiate hit and scored on a sacrifice fly by redshirt freshman Adam Holland.
 
Jacob Thiessen (1-2) earned the win for the home team by pitching seven innings with three runs allowed.
 
UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights are scheduled to play their first game of the season at Bainton Field on Wednesday at 3 p.m. versus Monmouth. The next weekend series is at Florida Gulf Coast.
 
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