Alexander Leads Spartans Over Detroit in Season Opener

Friday, February 10

Cyrill Stadium - Upstate Classic

4 pm

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

1-0

Detroit

0-1

Detroit

USC Upstate

2/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Spartanburg, S.C. – Hannah Alexander struck out 10 and allowed just one hit in six innings to lead the USC Upstate softball team to an 8-0 victory Friday afternoon in the season opener for the Spartans at Cyrill Stadium.

Upstate scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early and improve to 1-0 on the year. Alexander struck out 10 in the complete-game win, one off her career high. Detroit fell to 0-1 on the year.

"Hannah looked really good and was really sharp," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins, now in his 18^th season as head coach of the Spartans. "We weren't as nervous as I thought we would be. It was good to get this first win under our belt and I look forward to seeing how we do the rest of the weekend."

It took Upstate into the fourth inning to put runs on the board, but as soon as the scoring began, Upstate poured it on. The Spartans scored three runs in each of the fourth and two in the sixth to take the 8-0 victory.

Upstate started the scoring in the fourth inning when Shellie Robinson (DeLand, Fla.) led off the inning with a single and Cheyenne Griffin (Stanley, N.C.) walked. After the runners moved up a base on a passed ball, Maddison Kieffer (Middleburg, Fla.) grounded out to second to plate Robinson. Ashley Butler (Laurens, S.C.) followed with an RBI-double and Ericka Harris (Piedmont, S.C.) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to give Upstate a 3-0 lead.

Upstate picked up three more runs in the fifth. Hayley Reinfeld (Parkland, Fla.) singled to begin the inning and stole second. Lindsay Kelly (Jacksonville, Fla.) walked to put runners on first and second. Janna Lewis reached on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. Reinfeld scored on a wild pitch. Two outs later, Kieffer reached on an error to score two unearned runs as Upstate opened a 6-0 lead.

Upstate put the game away with a pair of runs in the sixth. Brookshire began the inning with a single. After a sacrifice bunt, Kelly singled to put runners on first and second. Kelly stole second and Kara Lohr (Lexington, N.C.), who pinch ran for Brookshire, scored when the catcher threw behind her at third on Kelly's steal attempt. Kelly later scored on a wild pitch to end the game.

Reinfeld led the offensive attack for Upstate. She finished 2-for-2 with a run. Six other Spartans got a hit in the game, while Kelly scored a pair of runs coming off the bench.

While the bats finally came alive midway through the game, Alexander was on throughout. She took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out 10 to earn the win. She struck out the side in the fifth and had two strikeouts in two other innings.

In all, Upstate played 15 different players in the game, including 10 of the 12 freshmen on the roster.

Karyn McCarty tossed four inning, giving up three runs on four hits to take the loss for Detroit.

Other Games
Game 1 - Ohio 3, St. Bonaventure 0 - Game Box

Lauren McClary went the distance, allowing just one hit in seven innings to lead Ohio to a 3-0 victory over St. Bonaventure Friday afternoon in the first game of the Upstate Classic.

Alexis Joseph and Erin Lashley each picked up an RBI in the win to lead Ohio at the plate in the Bobcats' season opener.

Game 3 - St. Bonaventure 6, Detroit 3 - Game Box

St. Bonaventure scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to steal away a 6-3 victory over Detorit in the nightcap of the Upstate Classic Friday evening.

St. Bonaventure had fallen behind, 2-0, in the first and finally took the elad, 3-2, in the fourth. But Detroit tied the game in the top of the sixth before the Bonnies plated three runs in the bottom of the frame to take the win.

Diana Phalon tossed six innings to get the win and Jen Sansano came on for the save to give St. Bonaventure the win.