University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
UMBC
Harris, Childers Deliver Win For Upstate
2/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 19, 2010
Spartanburg, S.C. - Freshman catcher Ericka Harris drove in the game-winning run with a two-run double and pitcher Morgan Childers struck out 16 to lead USC Upstate to a 3-1 victory over UMBC Friday afternoon in the Campus Suites Spartan Classic at Cyrill Stadium.
Upstate improved to 2-1 on the year and will play a pair of games tomorrow in the tournament. The Spartans will take on Eastern Kentucky at 1:00 p.m. and close out the day's schedule against Liberty at 5:00.
Childers was simply outstanding in the circle. The one run she gave up was certainly not her fault. She induced Amanda Page to lift a pop fly to left field. However, miscommunication between several players allowed the ball to drop untouched and Amanda Fefel scored from second on the double in the fourth inning. The run was about all that UMBC would get as Childers allowed just one hit the rest of game.
"Morgan was simply outstanding today," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "She hit her spots and kept their hitters off balance the whole game. It is unfortunate our defense let her down and allowed the one run to score, but all in all, I couldn't have asked any more of her today."
Upstate jumped on top with a run in the second inning when Katie Zauner stole third and scored when the shortstop could not field the throw. UMBC tied the game in the fourth on Page's double.
After not scoring for two innings and watching UMBC tie the game at 1-1, Upstate struck in the fifth inning. Kim Brasil stole second with two outs and Crislyn Chewning reached first after being hit by a pitch. Harris then stepped up and delivered the game-winning hit, smashing a double into the gap in left center to empty the bases and put the Spartans ahead, 3-1.
"It was really good to see Ericka deliver," said Hawkins. "She has a really good bat and can produce at the plate. To see her step into the batter's box with a lot of pressure on her and deliver as a freshman says a lot about the type of player she is."
While Harris' hit spelled the difference in the game, it was Childers' performance in the circle that dominated the contest. She struck out the side in each of the second, third and fifth innings, and struck out at least two batters in six of the seven frames. She went the distance to improve to 2-0 on the year.
Stephanie Weigman took the loss for UMBC. She struck out eight and allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits.
In the nightcap, Liberty scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win a marathon offensive display by both teams, taking a 12-11 victory over Eastern Kentucky.
Liberty jumped on top first, scoring three runs in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. However, Eastern Kentucky came right back and scored three runs to tie the game in the top of the fifth. The teams combined for 10 runs in the sixth inning, each scoring five as the game went to the seventh tied at 8-8.
In the seventh, Liberty had a golden opportunity to end the game. The Flames put runners at second and third with one out. Ashley Besinger walked to load the bases. However, EKU was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout and a force out to send the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, Eastern Kentucky pushed across three runs to open an 11-8 lead. Jena Handley delivered a three-run double to do the damage. Liberty, though, was not done. The Flames loaded the bases with one out. Kaylee West drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 11-9. Liberty then drew two straight walks to get within one, 11-10. Besinger singled to center to drive in two runs and end the game.
Katie Warrington tossed the final two innings to pick up the win and improve to 1-0 on the year. Noelani Esperas took the loss for the Colonels. Besinger led Liberty at the plate with a pair of hits and four RBI, while West added a pair of hits while driving in three. Kelly Strickland had three hits and three runs. Handley was awesome at the plate for EKU, finishing with three hits and six RBI on the day. Liberty improved to 1-1, while Eastern Kentucky dropped its season opener.
Tournament Schedule
Friday, February 19
Upstate 3, UMBC 1
Liberty 12, Eastern Kentucky 11
Saturday, February 20
Eastern Kentucky vs. UMBC - 11:00 am
Eastern Kentucky vs. Upstate - 1:00 pm
Liberty vs. UMBC - 3:00 pm
Liberty vs. Upstate - 5:00 pm
Sunday, February 21
Consolation Game - 11:00 am
Championship Game - 1:00 pm
