Torbert Delivers Game-Winning Hit as Spartans Down Owls
4/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Kennesaw, Ga. – In a game that took more than 45 hours to complete, Jenna Torbert belted a double in the left center gap to score Lauren Quevedo from second for the game-winning run and USC Upstate went on for a 6-4 victory in eight innings in the second game of the A-Sun softball doubleheader against Kennesaw State.
The game had started on Friday evening and went into the eighth inning before lightning and then rain caused the game to be called. With Upstate and Kennesaw State both scheduled for games on Saturday, the teams were forced to finish the game on Sunday.
Upstate improved to 37-11 overall and 9-7 in the A-Sun with the win. The Spartans finished the weekend with three wins in four games. Kennesaw State fell to 26-20 overall and 8-6 in the A-Sun.
Upstate jumped on top in the first inning when Quevedo doubled to drive in Ericka Harris (Piedmont, S.C.). Upstate made it a 2-0 game when Katie Zauner (Canby, Ore.) drove in Lindsay Kelly (Jacksonville, Fla.) with a single in the third.
Kennesaw State cracked the scoreboard on Ashlee Burkett's solo home run in the bottom of the third inning. The Owls then scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning. The Owls loaded the bases and Bianca Durant followed with a double that cleared the bases.
Upstate battled back to tie the game at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the sixth. Zauner and Quevedo (Wellington, Fla.) each singled to start the inning and Ashley Butler (Laurens, S.C.) drove in two runs with a single later in the frame.
The game headed to extra innings and Upstate continued to battle. With one out, Quevedo doubled to right center. However, lightning was detected in the immediate area and the game was halted. Heavy rain began to fall and the game was called for the day.
On Sunday, Torbert (Denver, N.C.) delivered when play resumed and lifted the Spartans to the win. Ashley Butler (Laurens, S.C.) also drove in a run when she reached base on a ball up the middle and pinch runner Katelyn Molkenthin (Valrico, Fla.) scored from second to give Upstate a 6-4 lead.
Upstate starter Hannah Alexander (Lexington, N.C.) went five innings. She was replaced by Morgan Childers (Kings Mountain, N.C.) after putting two batters on base to start the sixth. Childers recorded an out and with runners on second and third, pitched out of the jam.
Childers tossed a 1-2-3 inning on Sunday, striking out the final two batters to end the game and secure the win. She improved to 26-7 on the year, tossing three innings with three strikeouts and no hits.
Quevedo led Upstate at the plate, finishing with two doubles and a single.
