March 24, 2009

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Charlotte, N.C. - USC Upstate used a seven-run seventh inning in game two to rally from a 2-0 deficit to take a 7-2 win and earn a split with Charlotte Tuesday afternoon at the 49er Softball Stadium. Charlotte won game one, 3-1.

Upstate stands 15-7 on the year and travels to Florida for two key A-Sun series against Stetson Thursday and Florida Gulf Coast Saturday. Charlotte is 17-7 on the year.

Upstate's offensive woes continued for most of the second game of the doubleheader as the Spartans managed just three hits through six innings. But in the seventh, the Spartans finally broke through by scoring seven runs to erase a 2-0 deficit and take the 7-2 win.

"We finally put some things together in the seventh inning and finally got some breaks," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "I'm proud of the team for staying in there and battling. We needed a win and we managed to get it."

Keri Sarratt started things off in the seventh with a single and Monica Hall and Heidi Gibbs followed with walks to load the bases. After pinch runner Becca Williams was forced at home on a fielder's choice, Crislyn Chewning singled to drive in two runs to tie the game at 2-2. Courtney Feldon followed with a walk to load the bases again. Lauren Quevedo drew a walk to plate the eventual winning run.

Amber Patterson cleared the bases with a three-run double to give Upstate a 6-3 lead and Hall drove in the final run of the game to give the Spartans a 7-3 lead.

Morgan Childers came in to finish things off, getting two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win for Upstate. Brittany Rice, who entered the game to start the sixth in relief of starter Amber Hamilton, got the win and improved to 2-1 on the year.

Charlotte scored an unearned run in the first inning when Whitney Williams scored on an errant throw from the outfield. The 49ers took a 2-0 lead Keri Palma's solo home run. Charlotte starter Katy Hackett tossed 6 1/3 innings and took the loss to fall to 4-2.

Patterson led the Spartans at the plate with three RBIs, while Chewning drove in two.

In game one, Charlotte opened a 3-0 lead and held on for a 3-1 win as Upstate attempted to rally. The 49ers jumped on top in the second inning when Palma hit a two-run home run to take a 2-0 lead. Charlotte added to the lead in the fifth inning in an unconventional way.

Palma led off the inning with a double and Williams followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. Jenny Rumbles then laid down a sacrifice bunt but ran into Janna Lewis as Lewis took the throw at first base. Lewis fell down after recording the out and Palma scored on the play to give the 49ers a 3-0 lead.

Upstate attempted to rally in the sixth inning. Chewning smacked a single with two outs in the sixth and Feldon followed with a walk. Ana Mitchell drove a pitch up the middle to score Chewning as Feldon and Mitchell advanced to second and third on the throw home. However, Charlotte starter Emily Jeffery induced a strikeout to end the threat. Upstate could not put anyone on base in the seventh as the 49ers took the win.

Jeffery improved to 12-3 on the year with the win, tossing a complete game with 10 strikeouts. Upstate starter Morgan Childers went the distance and took the loss to fall to 10-5 on the year.