March 22, 2009

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Johnson City, Tenn. - East Tennessee State University used a three-run third inning to claim a 3-1 win in game one and a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning of game two to take a 1-0 win and a sweep of USC Upstate Sunday afternoon in A-Sun softball action.

Upstate fell to 14-6 overall and 1-3 in the A-Sun. The Spartans travel to Charlotte Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader against the 49ers before hitting the road next weekend to play Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson in A-Sun action. ETSU improved to 17-9 overall and 2-4 in the league.

"I certainly hope this is a wake-up call for our team," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We have to work harder, prepare harder and play harder. We had some balls that were hit really hard but right at people and we didn't get any breaks today. But, we also didn't do the things we needed to get those breaks. We will put today behind us and move on."

A three-run third inning spelled the difference in the first game as ETSU took a 3-1 win to open the doubleheader. All three runs were scored with two outs in the inning.

After Upstate starter Morgan Childers retired the first two batters with a pop out and a strikeout, Katy Jett reached on a bunt to the left side and beat the Spartan defense to first base. Kate Powell followed with a single to left to put runners on first and second. Trisha Massenzo singled to left to drive in Jett for the first run of the game and Powell, who had advanced to third on the throw home, scored as Childers walked back to the circle before her throw tipped off Kim Brasil's glove at the plate. The Buccaneers made it a 3-0 lead when Jessie Hackworth drove in Massenzo with an RBI-single to left.

Upstate attempted to rally in the last two innings. After loading the bases with one out, Courtney Feldon drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to cut the ETSU lead to 3-1. Upstate still had two runners on with two outs, but Buccaneer starter Marissa Hardy got a strikeout to end the inning.

In the seventh, Amber Patterson led off with a single and Keri Sarratt followed with a single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Hardy then recorded a strikeout and a groundout as Upstate had runners on second and third with two outs. Hardy then recorded a strikeout to end the game.

Hardy went the distance to earn the win and improve to 9-4 on the year. She struck out seven on the day. Childers threw just three innings before being relieved by Amber Hamilton with no outs in the fourth. Childers fell to 10-3 on the year and finished with five strikeouts, reaching 400 for her career.

Powell and Annie Martin led the way for ETSU at the plate with two hits apiece.

Childers pitched a gem in the second game, but ETSU came up with the key play in the eighth inning to take the win. Upstate had an opportunity to score in the second inning, but was unable to push a run across. The Spartans put runners on second and third after Patterson reached on a single and Sarratt followed with a double with one out. However, ETSU starter Darci Gilbert got back-to-back groundouts to end the threat.

Upstate had another opportunity in the eighth inning when Heidi Gibbs led off the inning with a single and moved to second on Crislyn Chewning's sacrifice bunt. Gibbs advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, Gilbert was able to get out of the inning with two groundouts.

In the bottom of the eighth, Vicki McCoy and Cheniece Cason led off the inning with back-to-back singles and the Buccaneers loaded the bases with one out. Massenzo lifted a 0-2 pitch into right field for the sacrifice fly, scoring the game-winning run.

Childers went the distance in game two, finishing with 10 strikeouts, but taking her second loss of the day to fall to 10-4 on the year. Gilbert earned the victory in game two, pitching a complete game with four strikeouts and allowing just six Upstate hits.