Spartanburg, S.C. – Hannah Alexander allowed just one hit and struck out 11 to record her first career shutout and USC Upstate continued to supply the power as the Spartans recorded a doubleheader sweep by scores of 9-1 and 5-0 over Gardner-Webb Wednesday evening at Cyrill Stadium.
"It was good to see Hannah get her first career shutout, but, honestly, that wasn't a surprise to me and that is what we expect of her," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "She has the ability to do that game in and game out. She threw very hard today. She throws in the mid-60s and she was able to get inside on their hands today.
"Hannah is going to assume Morgan's (Childers) role next year and she is getting to see what this is like. By no means, though, do I want to take anything away from Morgan. She is why we are what we are today and, hopefully, Hannah will be the reason why we continue to excel."
Upstate improved to 6-0 on the season and will play host to the Upstate Classic this weekend at Cyrill Stadium. Gardner-Webb fell to 0-2 to open the season.
Upstate continued to get solid pitching and hitting to open the season. Childers (Kings Mountain, N.C.) started things off with a 12-strikeout effort in picking up the win in game one. Alexander (Lexington, N.C.) closed the door in the nightcap with her one-hitter. Katie Zauner (Canby, Ore.) and Lauren Quevedo (Wellington, Fla.) each knocked home runs in the second game to give the Spartans seven home runs in six games this season.
"I don't do a lot of coaching right now. I do a lot of motivating," said Hawkins. "When they are at the plate, sometimes a little amount of information is better than a lot. And, that's what I am doing right now, I am just staying out of their way."
Alexander was in total control in the second game of the doubleheader. She allowed a double to start the fourth inning, but got Jane Savage to line into a double play to end the inning without any damage being done. She did not walk a batter either in going the distance for the shutout. She improved to 2-0 on the year with the win.
Upstate got things going early with a run in the first inning when Zauner doubled to drive in Ericka Harris (Piedmont, S.C.). The Spartans made it a 3-0 lead in the third when Zauner cranked a two-run shot to left field. Quevedo capped the scoring in the fifth with a two-run shot.
Zauner finished the game with two hits and three RBIs to lead the Upstate attack. Gardner-Webb's Jessica Childers (0-1) took the loss.
Childers was strong in the first game of the doubleheader. She struck out 12 and scattered two hits over five innings as Upstate ended the game early due to the eight-run rule. Her only blemish on the day was allowing a solo home run to Kelsey Witter to lead off the third inning. Earlier in the day, Childers was one of 30 Division I softball players to be named to the Lowes Senior CLASS Award list.
Upstate broke on top with a run in the second inning when Ashley Butler (Laurens, S.C.) scored on Jenna Torbert's (Denver, N.C.) single through the right side. The Spartans made it a 3-1 game with a pair of runs in the third. Cheyanna Ohlrich (North Bend, Ore.) doubled down the line in left to drive two runs.
Upstate broke the game open with five runs in the fourth inning. Erin Schattle (Goose Creek, S.C.) scored on Janna Lewis' (Huntersville, N.C.) double to start things off. Kim Brasil (Mississauga, Ontario) doubled to drive in a run and Harris singled to plate a run as the Spartans chased starter Cindy Boomhower from the game. Upstate was not finished. Zauner followed with an RBI single and Ohlrich drove in a run on a ground out to put Upstate ahead, 8-1. The Spartans ended the game with a run in the fifth inning when Lewis singled and a throwing error allowed Torbert to score from second.
Childers went the distance in the five-inning game to improve to 4-0 on the season. Boomhower (0-1) took the loss for Gardner-Webb. Harris, Zauner, Torbert and Lewis each finished with two hits in the game, while Ohlrich collected three RBI.
