March 16, 2010

Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

Spartanburg, S.C. - The sixth inning was key in both games with nine of the 10 runs scored on the day crossed the plate in the frame. In the end, Upstate's Morgan Childers tossed a gem in the first game and took the loss in the second as USC Upstate split its doubleheader with Coastal Carolina Tuesday afternoon at Cyrill Stadium. Upstate claimed the win in game one, 4-0, and lost game two, 4-2.

Upstate stands 11-4 on the year and will play host to Charleston Southern Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Coastal Carolina is 9-14 on the year.

"We didn't have a lot of run support today," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We didn't hit the ball like we have been hitting and came up on the short end of the stick in game two. It was good to see us come through when we had the opportunity in the first game. We just needed to have more consistency at the plate today."

A classic pitching duel highlighted the play in game one as neither team could crack the other's starting pitcher. Childers was outstanding in the circle, finishing the game with 11 strikeouts and scattering just two hits to earn the win. Coastal Carolina hurler Katelin Edwards was just as solid, allowing just two hits on the day. But, it was the Upstate bats in the sixth inning that made the difference.

Entering the inning without a hit, Upstate got things started when Crislyn Chewning walked to lead off the inning. Ericka Harris reached on a fielder's choice, but Chewning beat the throw to second to put runners on first and second. Katie Zauner pounded a hard-hit ball in between third and short and the third baseman couldn't field the ball cleanly for an infield single to load the bases.

Cheyanna Ohlrich came up with the bases loaded and grounded to third. Chewning was forced at home, but the throw from catcher Olivia Piccirillo hit Ohlrich and the ball bounced away. Ohlrich moved to second base, while Harris and Zauner came all the way around to score. One batter later, Lauren Quevedo smashed a two-run home run down the hill in left to give Upstate a 4-0 lead.

Childers retired the side in the seventh, three-up and three-down, to take the win and improve to 9-1. Edwards took a tough loss to fall to 3-5.

Childers started the second game and was solid. She went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts before being lifted in the sixth. Another pitching duel ensued for the first part of the game. Coastal finally broke through with a run in the fifth inning when Mecaela Ballard singled with the infield drawn in to score Piccirillo.

Coastal broke the game open with three runs in the sixth inning. Alyssa Tornatore doubled down the right field line to score a pair of runs and Piccirillo scored on a fielder's choice as the Chanticleers opened a 4-0 lead.

Upstate, though, was not done. The Spartans cut the deficit to two on Chewning's two-run homer to right field. However, they could get no closer and Coastal held on for the win.

Childers took the loss in the game to fall to 9-2 on the year. Coastal starter Ashley Frederick went the distance, allowing two runs on four hits to improve to 6-7 on the year. Sarah Maples led the Chanticleers at the plate with a pair of hits.