April 3, 2010
Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2
Spartanburg, S.C. -
Morgan Childers took the circle in game one knowing she already stood atop the USC Upstate career record book for wins, tied with Kristy Middagh with 69 victories. But, when she completed the game by tossing a one-hitter and leading the Spartans to a 7-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader split with Stetson, she stood alone atop the record book with 70 wins. Stetson rallied in the second game to take a 1-0 victory.
The doubleheader featured two of the A-Sun's top pitchers as Childers and Stetson's Amanda Lindsey squared off in the first game. Lindsey didn't last long after Upstate put up four runs in the first inning to chase the starter after one inning of work. Lindsey took the loss, but came back to pitch a one-hit shutout in the second game to take the win.
Childers went the distance in the first game. She struck out 13 to record her 70th career win. The only mistake she made was giving up a two-run home run to Katie Lawrence in the fourth inning. Childers also pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief in the second game and finished the day with 17 strikeouts to put herself in position to reach 800 career strikeouts this week. She now has 796 in her career. She tops Upstate's all-time list for wins (70), strikeouts (796) and opponent batting average (.161).
"I'm really excited," said Childers about breaking the all-time wins record. "Everyone always asks me how I feel (about breaking records). But, honestly, I can't win these games without the team behind me. We win these games. Having the team behind me makes me want to win even more. It's funny, because my junior year of high school is when I stepped up and pitched better than I had before. Now, this year, has been better than what I have done in the past two years since I came to Upstate. I think I will look back and laugh about that as well."
Upstate came out on fire offensively in game one. The Spartans loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning before Lauren Quevedo singled to drive in Kim Brasil and Crislyn Chewning, while Katie Zauner came around after a throwing error by the Stetson centerfielder. Monica Hall singled to drive in a run as Upstate opened a 4-0 lead.
Upstate made it a 6-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning off of Stetson reliever Nicole Peltz. Chewning tripled to drive in Janna Lewis, who had reached on an error to lead off the inning. Ericka Harris followed with a single to drive in Chewning.
Stetson fought back with a pair of runs on Lawrence's two-run home run in the fourth inning, ruining Childers' opportunity for a no-hitter and shutout. Upstate got a run back in the sixth when Brasil led off the inning with a solo home run to straightaway center.
Childers tossed her 17th complete game of the season to earn the win and improve to 20-3 on the year. Lindsey lasted only an inning and gave up four runs to take the loss. She fell to 12-9 on the year. Chewning led Upstate at the plate with three hits and two runs. Brasil and Zauner each had a pair of hits for the Spartans.
While Lindsey took the loss in game one, she returned to start the second game and tossed a gem. She allowed just one hit and went the distance in the 1-0 victory. And, she had to battle Childers again for most of the game.
Upstate starter Amber Hamilton, coming off of three straight solid outings and two straight shutouts, matched Lindsey in the first two innings and took a 0-0 score into the top of the third inning. Stetson scored a run in the third when pinch hitter Katelyn Perna lifted a towering fly ball into foul territory where Upstate leftfielder Zauner tracked the ball down for the out. However, Chelsea Whalley tagged at third and scored on the sacrifice to give Stetson a 1-0 lead.
The 1-0 lead was all that Lindsey would need. After giving up a single to Chewning in the first, she held Upstate hitless the rest of the way. She finished the game with seven strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 13-9 on the year. She also got a stellar defensive play from Whalley in the sixth to squash a potential Upstate comeback attempt.
Brasil led off the inning in the bottom of the sixth and smashed a line drive into left field. The ball looked like it would make it to the wall without a problem, setting up a potential leadoff double or triple. However, Whalley lunged for the ball and snared it out of the air to record the out.
Upstate also mounted a comeback in the seventh inning. The Spartans put runners on first and second with one out following a walk and an error. However, Lindsey stiffened and struck out the next two batters to end the threat and take the win.
Lindsey improved to 13-9 on the year with the victory, taking a win and a loss on the day. Hamilton tossed 2 2/3 innings and allowed just one run on three hits to take the loss for Upstate. She fell to 3-3 on the year after back-to-back wins. Stetson collected seven hits in the game with seven different Hatters getting a hit.
Chewning led Upstate at the plate, finishing the day with four hits.
"I hope losing the second game today makes us hungrier," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We didn't play bad at all, we just didn't get the hits we needed in the second game. I feel very good about where we are at this point in the season. Morgan could very well have a 100 wins before she leaves here. She has reached one plateau and she is destined to go over a huge mountain."
