April 24, 2009

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Kennesaw, Ga. - Morgan Childers turned in two standout performances on the day and broke her own single-season strikeouts record, but it took USC Upstate to manufacture a run in the top of the eighth inning in game two to earn a split at Kennesaw State in A-Sun softball action Friday afternoon. Upstate won game two, 1-0, and dropped a 3-0 decision in game one.

Upstate stands 28-15 overall and 10-8 in the A-Sun with the split. The Spartans will end the season Saturday afternoon in a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader at Mercer.

"Today was one of those days when nothing we did offensively seemed to work," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We hit the ball, but it was always right at people. We just couldn't do much with their pitching. But, Morgan showed today just how dominant she can be. It was unfortunate that we made some mental mistakes in the first game that cost us a chance to win, but I am happy we were able to get that run in the second."

Childers was simply outstanding on the day. She started both games and finished with 18 strikeouts. She tied her own single-season school record with seven strikeouts in the first game to reach 258 for the season. She struck out the leadoff batter in the second game to break her own record and went on for 11 strikeouts in the eight inning win. She now has 269 strikeouts this year.

In game two, Upstate manufactured a run in the eighth to earn the win. Janna Lewis reached first on a throwing error by the Kennesaw shortstop to lead off the inning. Pinch hitter Monica Hall also reached on an error on the next at-bat to put runners on second and third with no outs.

Childers pitched out of a minor jam in the sixth inning when Kennesaw put a runners on second and third with two outs, but Childers recorded a strikeout for the final out of the inning to end the threat.

Two errors in the fifth inning cost Upstate in game one. Kennesaw's Jamie Kekaualua led off the inning with a walk. The next two Owls reached base as the Spartans committed throwing errors in sacrifice bunts to load the bases.

Childers stiffened and got pinch hitter Jacki Warren to pop out to third and struck out Jenna Closner to tie her own single-season strikeouts record with 258. However, cleanup hitter Catherine Tarvin drove a 1-2 pitch into right center for a triple and three RBIs as Kennesaw took a 3-0 lead. None of the runs in the inning were earned.

The three runs would be all that Kennesaw State and starting pitcher April Harper would need. Upstate had a difficult time with her low pitches and collected just one hit in the game, a Keri Sarratt single in the second inning. Harper had two strikeouts and forced 17 ground outs in the game to improve to 10-8 on the year.

Childers took the hard-luck loss for the Spartans, finishing with seven strikeouts and scattering four hits. She fell to 21-9 on the year.