HIGH POINT, N.C. - Looking to snap a four-game losing streak, High Point University baseball reenters conference play this Friday to faceoff with USC Upstate in Spartanburg. The three-game series will be the first the pair have had against one another since advancing to the Division I level, with the Panthers and Spartans splitting a season home-and-home series back in 2008.

Upstate will enter the weekend after earning a 5-0 victory over Lafayette, but preceded that win with a 2-1 series loss to UNC Asheville the weekend prior. The Spartans are playing sub-.500 ball at the moment, sporting a 10-11 record going into this weekend. 

SERIES HISTORY (D1 Era): 
High Point tied with Upstate: 1-1

WHAT TO KNOW
Who: USC Upstate
When: 6 PM, Friday
Probables: High Point: TBD | USC Upstate: RHP Jordan Marks (2-2, 2.57)
Where: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
Watch | Live Stats

Who: USC Upstate
When: 2 PM, Saturday
Probables: High Point: TBD | USC Upstate: LHP Trey Van Der Weide (0-1, 5.68)
Where: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
Watch | Live Stats

Who: USC Upstate
When: 1 PM, Sunday
Probables: High Point: TBD | USC Upstate: RHP Kyle Schmitt (2-1, 3.08)
Where: Cleveland S. Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
Watch | Live Stats

AT THE PLATE
• Trent Harris and Ryan Russell have reached first habitually over the past few weeks, holding nine and seven game on base streaks respectively
• Harris has collected an OBP of .412 on his current streak, matching his average for the season. He's tied with Russell for a team-best in 2019
• Daniel Millwee collected his fourth homer of the season against Campbell last week, he's hit in five of his last six appearances
• Sophomore Travis Holt is currently on a five-game hitting streak, after tallying knocks in each of his first seven games of the year
 
ON THE HILL
• Junior righty Grey Lyttle has combined for 9.0 innings of relief in his past two trips to the bump, collecting a 2.00 ERA during those appearances against JMU and Campbell
• Making six appearances on the year, freshman Jack Nathan is still yet to surrender an earned run in his career, and is tied with fellow first-years Brady Pearre and Trent Harris for a team-best ERA
• Freshman KJ Wells is currently on a streak of four straight shutout appearances, he's averaging a WHIP of .60 during that span
• With 9.1 IP and an ERA of 0.96, sophomore Jacob Winger has been one of the Panthers' most reliable relievers in 2019, surrendering just four baserunners on the year, with a WHIP of 0.33

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
• The Spartans have not been afraid to play small ball in 2019, with their 25 sac bunts sitting first in all of Division I baseball
• Four Upstate players hit .500 or better against UNC Asheville last weekend, sophomore Jeff Taylor made a pair of appearances in that matchup, slashing .750/.778/1.125 in his eight at bats
• Upstate has two reliable options in their pen when it comes down to the closing role, in juniors Will Wheeler and Sean Hupp. Wheeler has set himself apart however, holding a 0.93 ERA and 15.83 K/9 in his 19.1 innings of work

COMING UP NEXT
After the completion of their series with the Spartans, the Panthers will remain on the road with a Tuesday matchup at NC Central. The Purple & White will be looking for the sweep against the Eagles after defeating NCCU 6-4 inside Williard last month.

#GoHPU