NEWARK, NJ—Visiting USC Upstate swept Saturday's ASUN Conference doubleheader at NJIT, 9-7 and 9-1, to conclude the three-game series at Riverfront Stadium.

In the opening game series on Friday, NJIT defeated the Spartans, 7-3.

After a pair of wins on Saturday, USC Upstate moves to 18-20-1 overall, 3-6 in the ASUN while the Highlanders three-game win streak snaps, NJIT stands at 14-14 overall, 3-6 in the ASUN.

Trailing 7-6 heading into the top of the ninth, USC Upstate scored a pair of runs to earn the 9-7 victory in game one behind three scoreless innings pitched by Sean Hupp.

In the nightcap, USC Upstate starting pitcher Blake Whitney allowed just one Highlander run in the first seven innings, fanning eight batters while Will Wheeler kept the Highlanders scoreless in the final two innings of action to secure the 9-1 victory.

Game One | USC Upstate 9, NJIT 7 (Final)
With the Highlanders leading 7-6 heading into the top of the ninth, The Spartans tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by Chris Rodriguez and fielder's choice by Patt Raiff, driving in the Spartans ninth run of the game, taking a 9-7 lead.

USC Upstate used four pitchers to secure the win, with RHP Sean Hupp picking up his second win of the season, pitching the final three innings of action, letting up one hit and keeping the Highlanders scoreless.

Three Spartans drove in a pair of runs led by Toran Shahidi, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run, Russell Schwertfergr finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored and SS Will Hardigree went 1-for-5 with two RBI.

NJIT's Brent Jones, the fourth of six pitchers for the Highlanders took the loss, falling to 0-1 on the season. 

Six Highlanders drove in one run paced by 1B Julio Marcano (3-for-5), SS Justin Etts (2-for-6). 

USC Upstate struck first in the top of the second with a two out single to right center by C Toran Shalhidi, scoring Chris Rodriguez, who reached first on a walk, stole second and scored on the single for a 1-0 lead.

NJIT answered in the bottom portion of the second on a two-out RBI single by 2B Tom Brady, scoring DH Matthew Cocciadiferro, who reached first on a hit by pitch.

USC Upstate scored four runs in the top of the fourth on two-out double to left field by Will Hardigree and RBI single to right field by Shahidi, taking a 5-1 lead.

NJIT rallied in the bottom of the fourth with two outs driving in a pair of runs, first on an RBI single to left field by SS Justin Etts and an RBI single up the middle by LF Evan Pietronico, slimming the Spartan lead to 5-3.

The Highlanders pulled within one run of the Spartans, 5-4, in the bottom of the fifth after an RBI sacrifice fly to center field by Cocciadiferro.

NJIT went ahead, 6-5, in the bottom of the sixth with two outs on a Spartan error and RBI single up the middle by Julio Marcano.

A bases loaded walk for Franzoni in the bottom of the seventh, gave the Highlanders a 7-6 lead.

Game Two | USC Upstate 9, NJIT 1 (Final)
USC Upstate RHP starting pitcher Blake Whitney remains perfect on the season at 4-0 after holding the Highlanders to just one run over seven innings, letting up six hits and striking out eight batters.

Relief pitcher Will Wheeler pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth for the Spartans while striking out three batters.

3B Chris Gonzalez drove in a team-best three RBI, going 1-for-3 while SS Jake Bourke finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.  Leadoff batter Toran Shahidi went 3-for-6 in game two.

NJIT RHP starting pitcher Tyler Stafflinger was credited with the loss, dropping to 3-2 on the season, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing seven hits, three runs (two earned) and fanning three Spartan batters.

Senior CF Jesse Uttendorfer was the only multi-hit Highlander in game two, finishing 2-for-4 with one RBI, including a double and triple.
 
USC Upstate plated a single run in the top of the third an RBI by Bourke and added two runs in the top of the fourth, jumping out to a 3-0 lead.

NJIT tacked on one run in the bottom fourth on an RBI single by Uttendorfer, who doubled to left center, driving in Julio Marcano.  Julio Marcano led off the inning with a single to left field.

USC Upstate scored one run in the top of the fifth with bases loaded on a sacrifice fly to right field by Rodrigues, two in the top of the sixth and eighth and one in the ninth, extending the Spartan lead to 9-1.

NJIT will return to action on Wednesday, April 18 when the Highlanders visit Saint Peter's at 3pm.  In the first meeting on April 10, NJIT defeated the Peacocks, 11-3, in Newark.