April 7, 2009

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Charleston, S.C. - In blustery and cold conditions, USC Upstate gutted out a 2-1 victory in game one and Charleston Southern rebounded with an 8-0 win in game two as the Spartans split a non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.

Upstate stands 22-10 on the year and returns to action Friday at 4:00 p.m. in an A-Sun tilt against Belmont at Cyrill Stadium. Charleston Southern is 20-22 on the year.

In game one, it was a case of better late than never as Upstate scored a run in each of the sixth and seventh innings to squeak out a 2-1 win.

Upstate starter Morgan Childers was solid, striking out the side in the first inning to set the tone for the game. She finished the game by striking out five of the last nine batters she faced. She totaled 11 strikeouts to improve to 17-6 on the year. Jamie Wellons took the loss for Charleston Southern and fell to 10-15.

Though Childers was dominant in the circle, Charleston Southern broke through first. Elaine Edwards led off the third inning with a single and later scored on Megan Lombard's single that dropped just beyond a diving Ana Mitchell just to the left of second base.

Despite three hits through the first three innings, Upstate could not crack the scoreboard. The situation stayed the same until the sixth inning. Heidi Gibbs led off the inning with a triple and scored on Lauren Quevedo's grounder to first.

Upstate put the game away with a run in the seventh. Pinch hitter Monica Hall led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on Janna Lewis' sacrifice bunt. Hall scored on Kim Brasil's single to right to give Upstate a 2-1 lead.

Charleston Southern put a runner on third with one out in the seventh, but Childers induced two ground outs to end the game and secure the win. Gibbs led Upstate with three hits in the game.

In game two, Charleston Southern broke open a close game with three runs in the fourth inning and ended the game with five runs in the fifth. Upstate managed just two hits in the game.

With one out in the fourth, Charleston Southern smacked five straight hits to score the three runs. Lisa Rice started things off with a two-RBI double and Elaine Edwards followed with a bunt single to plate a run as the Buccaneers took a 3-0 lead.

With one out in the fifth, Charleston Southern tallied six straight hits to plate five runs to end the game. The Buccaneers recorded four RBI singles and the game-ending run scored on a wild pitch off Upstate reliever Brittany Rice.

Charleston Southern hurler Sondra Vetter went the distance for the win. She improved to 10-6 on the year. Upstate starter Amber Hamilton took the loss after giving up three runs in 3 1/3 innings of work and fell to 3-3.