SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — South Carolina Upstate scored five runs in the second inning and never trailed, defeating Clemson 6-3 on Tuesday afternoon at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park.

The Spartans improved to 26-27 overall while the Tigers fell to 30-23.

Clemson struck first in the top of the first inning. After a popout and a walk, Jacob Jarrell walked and Tryston McCladdie doubled down the first-base line, driving in two runs for a 3-0 lead. The Tigers managed only three hits after that frame.

South Carolina Upstate answered immediately in the bottom half. Maloy Heaghney singled up the middle, stole second and scored on a single to right field by J. Sweeney, cutting the lead to 3-1.

The decisive rally came in the bottom of the second. With one out, J. Armsey was hit by a pitch. After a flyout, W. Waters singled and A. Ritzer laid down a bunt single, scoring Armsey. H. Zenor then singled through the right side, plating Waters. Heaghney doubled to left center, driving in Ritzer, and T. Lang followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Zenor. By the time the inning ended, the Spartans led 5-3.

Clemson pitcher Talan Bell entered in relief during the second inning and retired five of the six batters he faced, striking out five over 2 1/3 hitless innings. Bell was the Tigers’ most effective pitcher, allowing no runs and no hits while recording five strikeouts.

The Tigers had a chance to cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth. J. Savoie singled, Jarrell doubled and G. Gaffney walked, loading the bases with one out. McCladdie flied out to center field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Savoie to make it 5-3. But the Tigers left two runners stranded and never got closer.

South Carolina Upstate added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Ritzer walked, moved to third on Heaghney’s second double of the game and scored on another sacrifice fly, this time by Lang, pushing the lead to 6-3.

Clemson’s bullpen held the Spartans scoreless over the final three innings. Landon Fowler pitched two innings, allowing one earned run on no hits while striking out two. Nathan Dvorsky followed with a scoreless seventh, and Justin LeGuernic struck out three in a perfect eighth.

The Tigers mounted one final threat in the top of the ninth. K. Purify doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third on a groundout. Jarrell grounded out to third base, driving in Purify to make it 6-3. Gaffney doubled but McCladdie popped out to end the game.

Clemson finished with eight hits, led by McCladdie’s two RBIs. Heaghney went 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored for South Carolina Upstate. The Spartans collected nine hits.

Pitching decisions: Jacob Kirby earned the win for South Carolina Upstate, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. Max Bianchini also tossed two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Jack Gibson worked two innings, giving up three hits and one earned run with two strikeouts. For Clemson, starter struggled, and Bell was the most effective arm.

The game was the second meeting between the schools this season. Clemson won the first contest 7-2 on April 21 in Clemson.

Clemson next plays at Virginia Tech for a three-game series beginning Thursday. South Carolina Upstate hosts Elon on Thursday before a weekend series against Northern Kentucky.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Clemson 4, South Carolina Upstate 8, while the Interstat ELO system gave Clemson a 70.50 percent probability to win.