March 11, 2009

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Conway, S.C. - It was a tale of two games as USC Upstate pounded out nine runs on 12 hits to take game one, 9-2, but the Spartans couldn't get anything going offensively in the second game and dropped a 5-0 decision as Upstate split its non-conference softball doubleheader at Coastal Carolina Wednesday afternoon.

Upstate stands 11-3 on the season and will travel to Rock Hill this weekend for the Winthrop/adidas Classic, taking on Ohio and Albany to start the tournament Friday. Coastal Carolina is 6-13 on the year. Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins picked up his 499th career win with the victory in the first game.

"We couldn't put consecutive hits together in the second game," said Hawkins. "Our pitchers had a harder time getting ahead in the count. We pitched behind a lot which is not conducive to winning. On the brighter side, we got Kim (Brasil) back today and she played well. We will be much better prepared for future games than we were today."

Upstate's bats came alive in game one. The Spartans pounded out 12 hits and plated nine runs for the runaway victory. Amber Patterson led the way with three hits and two runs, while Heidi Gibbs added two hits and three RBIs. Keri Sarratt, Crislyn Chewning and Kim Brasil finished with two hits to also lead the offensive attack.

After putting runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the first, Upstate could not push a run across. That was not the case in the second inning as the Spartans took a commanding 4-0 lead with four runs. The first two runs scored on a fielding error by Coastal's second baseman, while Gibbs and Chewning followed with RBI-singles.

Coastal fought back with runs in each of the second and third innings to cut the Upstate lead to 4-2. Only one of the two runs was earned. Upstate got the runs back in the fourth when Brasil and Gibbs hit back-to-back RBI-doubles.

Upstate added three runs in the top of the seventh to give starter Morgan Childers some insurance. Jenna Torbert started things off with an RBI-single, while the Spartans scored two runs on a fielder's choice and throwing error by the Coastal second baseman with the bases loaded.

Childers was in control throughout the game. Only one of the two runs scored against her was earned. She improved to 9-1 on the year after going the distance with seven strikeouts.

In game two, Costal jumped on Upstate early, scoring two runs in the first inning and adding two more in the third for a 4-0 lead. Michelle Evans had an RBI-single and Morgan Dodd walked with the bases loaded to give the Chanticleers a 2-0 lead in the first. Dodd and Brittany Bailey collected RBI-singles in the third inning to give Coastal a 4-0 lead.

Upstate could not get anything going at the plate, finishing with just five hits on the day. The Spartans left eight runners on base for the game.

Brittany Rice replaced Upstate starter Amber Hamilton to finish the third inning and allowed one unearned run in 3 1/3 innings of work. Hamilton took her first loss of the year, falling to 2-1. Coastal starter Katelin Edwards improved to 4-9 on the year with the win.

Brasil led Upstate at the plate, finishing with two hits in the game. Wednesday was Brasil's first action after missing the last 10 games with a minor knee injury. She returned Wednesday to collect four hits in eight at-bats.