Game Box

DeLand, Fla. - Having the stave off elimination against the No. 1 seed Lipscomb Lady Bisons, USC Upstate got a standout performance from Kim Brasil and Katie Zauner delivered a two-out single to drive in the game-winning run as the Spartans took a 3-2 victory over the Lady Bisons Thursday night in the A-Sun Tournament.

Kim Brasil led off the seventh inning with a triple, her third hit of the game, to begin the rally for the Spartans. Lipscomb pitcher Whitney Kiihnl didn't give in and got a ground out. Ericka Harris drew a one-out walk to bring Zauner to the plate. Zauner, who had struck out three times in the game, delivered with a single down the line in left to score Brasil with the winning run.

With the win, Upstate improved to 39-14 on the year and will play Jacksonville in an elimination game Friday afternoon at 3:30. Lipscomb (45-11) will take on the loser of Thursday night's Stetson/Kennesaw State game.

"Kim showed today why she is an all-conference player even though she wasn't selected," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We made good defensive plays all day and Morgan was her usual self. We finally got THE hit, not a hit. It was definitely the best win of the season for us."

Upstate starter Morgan Childers battled throughout the game and turned in an inspiring performance. She pitched out of jams in the fourth and seventh innings to earn the win and improve to 32-7 on the year. She struck out four to increase her season total to 416 on the year.

Childers and Kiihnl turned in the best pitching matchup of the day, but it was the bats that made the most noise in the game. Childers pitched out of a jam in the fourth inning. Lipscomb put two runners on base with two outs, but Childers got a pop up to end the inning.

Upstate then battled to put a couple of runs across on the board in the fifth. Blake Meredith started things off in the inning with a one-out, pinch-hit single. Brasil followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second. Harris then knocked a double to left center that emptied the bases to give Upstate a 2-0 lead.

Lipscomb responded with two runs in the sixth inning when Kellie Sirus knocked a two-run homer to tie the game at 2-2.

Childers stiffened in the seventh when Lipscomb attempted to take the lead. The Lady Bisons put runners on first and third with one out. Lauren Dortwegt stole second to put runners on second and third. However, MacKenzie Tucker lined out to Zauner in left and Childers struck out Abby Keese to end the inning and setup the seventh-inning heroics by Brasil and Zauner.

One negative note to the victory. Keri Sarratt had to be removed from the game in the top of the sixth after injuring her knee trying to catch a foul ball. Her status is unknown at this time.

Brasil was simply outstanding in the game. She finished with three hits and two runs to lead Upstate at the plate. Harris collected two RBI for the Spartans.