CLINTON, S.C. (Interstat) — Presbyterian College scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to snatch a 6-5 victory over South Carolina Upstate in a Big South Conference game Friday at Presbyterian Baseball Complex.

The Blue Hose trailed 5-1 after seven innings but chipped away with two unearned runs in the eighth before completing the comeback in the ninth. The Spartans had taken control with a three-run eighth, only to watch Presbyterian rally for its 11th win of the season against 38 losses. South Carolina Upstate fell to 23-27.

Both teams struggled to generate offense early. South Carolina Upstate starter Chris Torres worked three scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out four. Presbyterian starter Tyrell Williams matched him, retiring the first nine batters he faced.

The Spartans broke through in the fourth inning. H. Zenor singled to left, moved to second on a single by shortstop Maloy Heaghney and advanced to third on a walk. Center fielder Trey Bentley lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Zenor.

South Carolina Upstate added an unearned run in the fifth. A. Ritzer singled on a bunt, stole second and scored when Zenor reached on a fielding error by third baseman M. Rollison.

Presbyterian answered in the seventh. Jonathan Williams, who had entered the game earlier in the fifth at third base, drove a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

South Carolina Upstate responded emphatically in the top of the eighth. With one out, Zenor singled and Heaghney doubled to right-center, scoring Zenor. Heaghney stole third and came home on a single through the left side by catcher Tyler Lang. Lang stole second, advanced to third on a lineout and scored on another sacrifice fly by Bentley. The Spartans led 5-1.

Presbyterian began its comeback in the bottom of the eighth after Max Eichenberger relieved Torres. B. Linker singled, and L. Hyneman reached on a bunt single that was thrown away by the pitcher, allowing Linker to reach third. A. Albertus grounded out to second to drive in Linker, and B. Moody singled to center to score Hyneman. Both runs were unearned, making it 5-3.

In the ninth, Presbyterian faced reliever A. Kummer. A. Dewberry led off with a single up the middle. Designated hitter Emory Guilford tripled to center field, scoring Dewberry to make it 5-4. Second baseman Cam Mallo followed with a single to shortstop, driving in Guilford to tie the game. Mallo was replaced by pinch runner A. Taylor. Center fielder James Green was hit by a pitch, and B. Linker sacrificed the runners to second and third. Hyneman then reached on a fielder’s choice bunt to first, scoring Taylor and giving the Blue Hose the walk-off win.

Jonathan Williams finished with two hits and a home run. Guilford had a triple and two RBIs. Mallo drove in the tying run. For South Carolina Upstate, Heaghney had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Lang had a hit and an RBI. Bentley drove in two runs with two sacrifice flies.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a 4-1 Spartan victory, and its ELO system gave South Carolina Upstate a 76.5 percent probability to win.