Game Preview: Elon at South Carolina Upstate

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Elon visits South Carolina Upstate on Thursday at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. under mostly clear skies and a temperature of 76 degrees.

The Phoenix (20-31) are coming off a 10-3 win Tuesday at Queens (N.C.), a rare bright spot in a season that has featured 11 losses in their last 14 games. Elon dropped three straight at home to College of Charleston last weekend before the midweek victory.

South Carolina Upstate (26-27) enters with momentum after a 6-3 win Tuesday against Clemson. The Spartans have won eight of their last 12, including a three-game sweep at Presbyterian last weekend.

The teams met most recently on May 5, when Upstate routed Elon 18-4 at home.

Elon pitcher Cole Hansen is a key player to watch. The right-hander threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings Tuesday against Queens, allowing no hits and three earned runs while striking out six. In his last five outings, he has worked 16 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and seven earned runs with 17 strikeouts. He has not allowed a hit in three of his last five appearances.

South Carolina Upstate counters with pitcher Jacob Kirby, who threw three scoreless innings Tuesday against Clemson, giving up one hit and striking out two. In his last three outings covering 6 1/3 innings, he has allowed four hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 win for the Spartans.

Elon plays Northern Kentucky next on Thursday at this same venue. Upstate hosts Northern Kentucky on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.