Spartanburg, S.C. – Morgan Childers turned in another dominating performance Sunday afternoon, tossing her sixth career no-hitter and the second of the season to lead USC Upstate to a 2-0 victory over La Salle and to the championship of the Campus Suites Spartan Classic softball tournament at Cyrill Stadium.
Childers allowed just one base runner the entire game, giving up a walk to the first batter of the game. After that, no other La Salle player reached base as Childers dominated the Explorers. She struck out a season-high 17 batters and improved to 11-0 on the year. She finished the tournament with three wins, all shutouts, and 40 strikeouts. She allowed just three hits in 21 innings of work en route to earning MVP honors of the tournament.
"Morgan was exceptional today," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "She really had her changeup working. She is always outstanding, but there are occasions, like today, where she just gets in a zone and is untouchable. I don't know that I could ask any more of her.
"Offensively, we haven't faced a good rise-ball pitcher this season and we had some trouble with her. But, we persevered and managed to score a couple of runs."
Upstate improved to 16-0 on the season, the best start since the 2000 team began the season 28-0. The Spartans will play host to Furman Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
Childers held La Salle scoreless and waited for the Upstate to bats to come through. They did so in the fifth inning when Ericka Harris (Piedmont, S.C.) lifted a fly ball to centerfield to score Katelyn Molkenthin (Valrico, Fla.) from third with the eventual game-winning run. The Spartans added a run in the sixth inning when Cheyanna Ohlrich (North Bend, Ore.) led off the inning with a solo home run to left.
Ohlrich and Katie Zauner (Canby, Ore.) each finished with two hits to lead Upstate at the plate. La Salle starter DJ Guinn went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits to fall to 0-2 on the year.
Childers was one of four Spartans named to the all-tournament team. Joining Childers on the team were Ericka Harris, Cheyanna Ohlrich and Katie Zauner. Also named to the all-tournament team were Ciera Gordon, Lorae Robinson and Marisa Coats from Howard, Erin Galloway and Katie Schalz from Oakland, Jackie McBride from La Salle and Mary Episcopo from Lafayette.
Campus Suites Spartan Classic
Friday, February 25
Game 1 – Oakland 4, La Salle 3
Game 2 – Upstate 2, Howard 0
Game 3 – Howard 9, La Salle 1
Game 4 – Oakland 7, Lafayette 3
Saturday, February 26
Game 5 – La Salle5, Lafayette 0
Game 6 – Upstate 5, Oakland 0
Game 7 – Upstate 10, Lafayette 0
Game 8 – Howard 4, Oakland 3
Sunday, February 27
Game 9 – Howard 8, Layette 2
Game 10 – Upstate 2, La Salle 0
