SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Trey Bentley’s three-run double in the fifth inning ignited a comeback and Maloy Heaghney drove in the tying and go-ahead runs as South Carolina Upstate rallied from a seven-run deficit to defeat Northern Kentucky 8-7 on Friday night at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park.

The Spartans improved to 28-27, while the Norse fell to 24-27.

Northern Kentucky erupted for seven runs in the top of the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. Pierce Bauerle led off with a solo home run down the left-field line. After two strikeouts and a walk, Ethan Thomas launched a three-run homer to left center, scoring Jo Williams and Ma Harrison. Mark Nowak struck out, then Liam Springmeyer added a solo shot to right center for a 7-0 lead before the inning ended.

South Carolina Upstate starter M. Kaplan was lifted after the first, and the Norse added a run in the fourth on Alex Brazer’s solo homer to right field to push the lead to 8-0. Northern Kentucky starter Kyle Cortner threw 3 1-3 innings of hitless ball with two strikeouts, but the bullpen could not hold the lead.

The Spartans began their rally in the bottom of the fifth. After a hit batter and a fielder’s choice, H. Zenor doubled to right center and scored on Heaghney’s single through the left side. A hit batter, a walk and another hit batter forced in a run, then Bentley cleared the bases with a double to center, scoring three runs and cutting the deficit to 8-5. The inning ended with the Spartans still trailing by three.

In the sixth, South Carolina Upstate added a run. A. Ritzer was hit by a pitch, Zenor singled and Heaghney singled to load the bases. T. Lang singled to center, scoring Ritzer to make it 8-6. The Spartans left the bases loaded when J. Sweeney flied out and Bentley struck out.

The score remained 8-6 until the bottom of the eighth. Heaghney doubled to left center, scoring Zenor to tie the game. After an intentional walk, a fielder’s choice and a stolen base, another intentional walk loaded the bases. P. Lucas walked with the bases loaded, forcing in Heaghney with the go-ahead run. The Spartans added an insurance run later in the inning.

Northern Kentucky threatened in the ninth. Jo Williams singled up the middle with two outs, but Harrison grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop to end the game.

Max Bianchini earned the win for South Carolina Upstate, throwing three scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts, allowing three hits. Wyatt Land pitched two innings, allowing one earned run on one hit with three strikeouts. Trey Bentley drove in three runs on one hit, and Heaghney finished with three hits and two RBIs. For Northern Kentucky, Ethan Thomas had two hits, including a home run and three RBIs. Bauerle and Jake Paulick each homered. Cody Little took the loss, allowing two earned runs in two innings.

The first-inning outburst gave the Norse an early lead that looked insurmountable, but the Spartans chipped away steadily against the Northern Kentucky bullpen. The turning point came when Bentley’s double in the fifth cut the lead to two runs and shifted momentum. Heaghney’s double in the eighth tied the game and set up the winning run.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of South Carolina Upstate 7, Northern Kentucky 6, and the ELO system gave the Spartans a 73.70 percent probability to win. The teams meet again Saturday for the second game of the series.