DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — A dominant collective effort from the bullpen and a clutch seventh-inning double from Henry Zenor propelled South Carolina Upstate to a 2-1 victory over Stetson in a tightly contested midweek baseball game Wednesday evening.

The game, a pitcher’s duel defined by missed opportunities and stellar relief work, saw the Spartans (6-4) scratch across a single run in the fourth and another in the seventh, which proved just enough to edge the Hatters (3-6).

Stetson struck first and fast in the bottom of the opening inning. Juan DelaCruz was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a two-out single to right center by Renzo Gonzalez. Gonzalez was thrown out trying to stretch the hit, ending the inning but giving the Hatters a 1-0 lead with what would be one of only two hits they managed all night.

South Carolina Upstate answered in the top of the fourth against Stetson starter Joel Core. Johnny Sweeney led off with a double, and after a walk and a single loaded the bases, Kenan Bowman delivered an RBI single to center to tie the game. Core limited the damage, striking out one batter before giving way to Trace Hartman, who escaped the jam with the bases loaded.

The stalemate continued until the top of the seventh. With Hartman still on the mound, Gage Griggs walked, stole second and scored the decisive run when Zenor doubled down the right field line. The hit was Zenor’s second of the game and drove in what stood as the winning run.

The most important part of the game was the overwhelming performance of the South Carolina Upstate bullpen, which combined for seven hitless innings after the first. Following starter Max Eichenberger, who allowed the first-inning run over two innings, Jacob Kirby entered in the third and delivered three perfect innings with two strikeouts to earn the win. Andrew Kummer, Wyatt Land and Cayden Mackey followed with two perfect innings of their own, with Mackey earning the save. In total, five Spartan relievers faced 22 batters, allowing no hits and just two walks while striking out nine.

Stetson’s pitching was strong but not as suffocating. Core took the loss, allowing one run on five hits over 3 1/3 innings. Hartman provided three innings of relief, yielding one run, and Dallis Moran pitched two scoreless frames. The Hatters’ offense, however, was stymied after its first-inning flicker, mustering only one other single and failing to advance a runner past first base after the fourth inning.

The victory improved South Carolina Upstate to 6-4, while Stetson fell to 3-6. The Spartans travel to face Georgia Southern for a three-game series starting Friday. Stetson remains at home to host Fordham for a three-game set beginning the same day.