March 28, 2009

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

DeLand, Fla. - USC Upstate survived two gut-check moments and got strong performances from several different players to take a doubleheader sweep of Stetson Saturday evening in A-Sun softball action at Patricia Wilson Field.

Upstate earned its first A-Sun sweep of the year and its second-straight sweep of Stetson. The Spartans are now 6-0 all-time against the Hatters. Upstate improved to 17-9 overall and 3-5 in the league. Stetson fell to 20-16 overall and 3-3 in the conference with the two losses.

"I told the team before the game today that the season started today, that we needed to put what has happened behind us and start fresh," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We did that today in a big way in finding a way to sweep a solid team with two very good pitchers. I am proud of the players for coming together and getting two wins. After a shaky first inning of the first game, Morgan (Childers) was back to her dominant self."

The action was furious in the first inning of game one as Upstate and Stetson combined for six runs. Upstate started things off with two runs on an RBI single from Heidi Gibbs and an RBI fielder's choice from Courtney Feldon. Stetson, though, responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to open a 4-2 lead. Jessica Lokeinsky drove in a run on a single and Katelyn Perna plated two with an RBI single. A run also scored on an illegal pitch.

Upstate starter Morgan Childers settled down and kept Stetson off the board the rest of the game, letting the Spartan bats do the work. Upstate scored runs in four of the first five innings to take the 7-4 win.

Gibbs collected her second RBI hit in the second inning to get Upstate within one, 4-3. After a scoreless third inning, Upstate took the lead with three runs in the fourth. Gibbs started things off by being hit by a pitch. The Spartans put runners on second and third after Crislyn Chewning reached on an infield error. Courtney Feldon drove in a run on a ground out and, with two outs, Keri Sarratt and Amber Patterson followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to give the Spartans a 6-4 lead.

Upstate made it a 7-4 lead in the fifth inning. Ana Mitchell reached and made it all the way to third on a fielding error by the Stetson right fielder to lead off the inning. She scored on Chewning's RBI single to give the Spartans a 7-4 lead.

Stetson put runners on first and third with two outs, but Childers induced Amanda Lindsey into a pop out to end the inning and the threat. Childers struck out the final two batters in the seventh to end the game.

Childers struck out five and allowed just two hits after the first inning to take the win. She improved to 11-6 on the year. Gibbs led the Spartans at the plate with three hits, two runs and two RBIs.

Childers was solid in game two, entering the game in the fourth in relief of starter Amber Hamilton. She tossed five innings with eight strikeouts and just five hits to earn the win and improve to 12-6 on the year.

Upstate jumped on top with a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Spartans batted around in the inning and ultimately chased Stetson starter Erica Demers out of the game after the inning. Amber Patterson and Lauren Quevedo singled with one out. Janna Lewis drove in a run on a single down the right line, the first of three-straight RBI singles. Ana Mitchell and Kim Brasil also added RBI singles in the inning and Mitchell scored the fourth run of the frame as Gibbs reached on an error.

While Upstate grabbed momentum, Stetson grabbed it right back in the bottom of the inning with four runs to tie the game. Megan Voeller started the inning by reaching on an error and scored on Katie Lawrence's single. It would be the first of four unearned runs in the inning for the Hatters.

Amy Joyce reached on an error that scored a run, while Lindsey followed with a two-run single to tie the score at 4-4.

Childers pitched out of a jam in the fifth inning. After Stetson put runners on first and second with one out, the sophomore recorded two strikeouts to end the threat. She finished the game with two strikeouts in the seventh and three Ks in the eighth to earn the win.

Upstate had an opportunity to put a run on the board in the sixth and seventh innings. The Spartans put runners on second and third with one out, but Stetson reliever Nicole Peltz induced a line out and a ground out to end the threat. In the seventh, Keri Sarratt led off with a single and pinch runner Katelyn Molkenthin advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Amber Patterson. Lauren Quevedo singled, but Molkenthin was thrown out trying to score as the game went to extra innings.

In the eighth, Upstate manufactured the winning run with two outs. Brasil knocked a triple to right center and Gibbs reached on an error that brought Brasil home with the game-winning run. Childers struck out the side in the bottom of the frame to get the win.

Brasil and Quevedo led Upstate at the plate in game two. Brasil finished 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Quevedo had three hits and a run. For the day, Brasil, Gibbs and Quevedo each had four hits.