USC Upstate baseball team falls short against Georgia

Spartans battle back but come up short against ranked Bulldogs

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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USC Upstate's baseball team faced a tough challenge against No. 9 Georgia, jumping out to an early lead before the Bulldogs rallied to win 12-6. Junior first baseman Clayton Campidilli homered for the Spartans, while senior catcher Preston Lucas and senior second baseman Gage Griggs also had multi-hit games. Three Upstate pitchers combined for 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Why it matters

This was the first time this season that USC Upstate faced a ranked, Power-Five opponent, providing an early test for the Spartans as they look to build on their 2-3 start to the season. The game also marked the continuation of the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic, an annual event hosted by the Spartans.

The details

USC Upstate jumped out to an early lead, but Georgia rallied to win 12-6. Campidilli's three-run homer in the fourth pulled the Spartans within one run, but the Bulldogs pulled away late. Three Upstate pitchers combined for 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • USC Upstate is now 2-3 on the season.

The players

Clayton Campidilli

A junior first baseman for USC Upstate who homered and had a multi-hit game.

Preston Lucas

A senior catcher for USC Upstate who had a multi-hit, multi-RBI game.

Gage Griggs

A senior second baseman for USC Upstate who had a multi-hit game.

Andrew Kummer

A freshman right-handed pitcher for USC Upstate who recorded a pair of strikeouts in 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Georgia

The No. 9 ranked team that USC Upstate faced, representing a Power-Five conference opponent.

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What’s next

USC Upstate will host its first weekend of non-conference games as part of the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic, facing Northern Illinois, Valparaiso, and NJIT.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, USC Upstate's performance against a ranked Georgia team shows the Spartans can compete with top-tier opponents as they look to build momentum heading into conference play.