CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — Maloy Heaghney drove in six runs, including three on a first-inning homer that ignited a wild offensive outburst, and the South Carolina Upstate Spartans outlasted the Charlotte 49ers 11-10 in a nonconference baseball slugfest Wednesday at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.

The Spartans (11-11) built an 11-run lead before the first out was recorded, then survived a furious eight-run response from the 49ers (14-7) in the second inning and a late Charlotte rally to secure the victory. The game featured 31 combined hits and saw the host 49ers, who were projected as solid favorites by pregame analytics, claw back from a massive early deficit only to fall just short.

The most important sequence of the game came in the top of the ninth inning, with the score knotted at 10. South Carolina Upstate, which had seen its early 11-run lead completely erased, mounted a decisive two-out rally against Charlotte reliever Jackson Taylor. With two on and two out, Henry Zenor delivered an RBI single to break the tie, and Jace Armsey followed with another run-scoring single to provide a critical insurance run.

That rally proved essential when Charlotte threatened in the bottom of the ninth. A leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt put the tying run in scoring position with one out. But Spartans reliever Jacob Kirby induced a ground ball to third base that resulted in a game-ending 3-6-1 double play, stranding the potential tying run at third.

The game began in stunning fashion. The Spartans sent 10 men to the plate in a marathon top of the first, scoring 11 runs on just three hits but capitalizing on five walks and a hit batter from Charlotte pitchers Alex Baker and Aidan Camp. The crushing blow was Heaghney’s three-run homer off Camp, which capped the historic inning. The shortstop finished 2-for-6, adding a two-run double in the third.

Charlotte answered with immediate force, scoring twice in the first on a two-run homer by Dylan Koontz. The 49ers then sent 14 batters to the plate in a chaotic bottom of the second, scoring eight runs on seven hits to slash the deficit to 11-10. Todd Hudson launched a two-run homer in the frame, while Koontz, Carson Gunderson and Carter Stricklin each contributed RBI hits.

From there, the game transformed into a battle of bullpens. After the early fireworks, six South Carolina Upstate relievers combined to throw 7 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and striking out seven. Andrew Kummer, Nathan Hook, Jack Gibson, Ben Chuttey and Kirby were particularly effective in silencing the Charlotte offense after the second-inning explosion.

Zenor complemented Heaghney’s big day, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Armsey scored three times and drove in one. For Charlotte, Koontz went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, while Hudson was 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs.

The win gave South Carolina Upstate a measure of momentum heading into a weekend series at Longwood. Charlotte, which had won four of its last five, looks to rebound as it travels to Wichita State for a three-game set.