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Spartanburg, S.C. - The USC Upstate softball team will host its third tournament of the season when it hosts the Upstate Softball Tournament Friday-Sunday at Cyrill Stadium. Upstate will open the tournament against La Salle on Friday and will also play Liberty and Savannah State this weekend.

Upstate enters the weekend with an 8-0 record, having swept a doubleheader at Gardner-Webb on Wednesday. The Spartans claimed a 9-0 victory over the Bulldogs in game one, while taking a 7-0 victory in game two. Lacey Dinney struck out 13 in game two, while Maddison Kieffer and Shellie Robinson knocked home runs in the twinbill. The two shutouts gave the Spartans their sixth and seventh shutouts in eight games this season. Upstate has yet to give up an earned run this season, now spanning eight games and 51 innings.

La Salle will open its season in the Upstate Softball Tournament. Liberty stands 2-2 on the year, while Savannah State enters the weekend with a 3-3 record. Fans can follow the action throughout the weekend online at the official Upstate Athletics website, www.upstatespartans.com. Live statistical updates will be available, as well as live video for a fee of Friday's game against La Salle offered on ASun.TV. Complete game statistics and game recaps will be available following each day of the tournament.

Upstate has never played Savannah State in the history of the program. Upstate is 0-1 all-time against Liberty, a 12-2 loss in 2010, and is 1-0 all-time against La Salle, a 2-0 victory last year.

Eight Games and Counting
Upstate has started 2012 in grand fashion in many ways, not the least of which is in its pitching. Through the first eight games of the season, the Spartans have yet to give up an earned run. Upstate did allow three runs against George Mason, but all were unearned.

Shutouts Abound
In addition to not allowing an earned run through the first eight games of the season, Upstate has also had a strong start in recording shutouts. The Spartans have tossed seven shutouts in eight games this season. The four shutouts to begin the season tied the 2004 team for the most shutouts to start a season, while the 7-of-8 shutouts is the best mark in program history.

Dinney Tosses First Division I No-Hitter
Although tossing a no-hitter in the junior college nationals, Lacey Dinney accomplished a first playing on the Division I level, she tossed a no-hitter against UNC Wilmington in the final game of the Spartan Invitational (Feb. 17-18). Dinney went the distance, striking out six to earn the win and the no-hitter. She is the first player other than former all-time great Morgan Childers to pitch a no-hitter for Upstate since moving to Division I.

Spartans Tops in A-Sun
Not only is Upstate one of two undefeated teams in the A-Sun, the Spartans also rank at the top of the league in several statistical categories. Upstate leads the league with a 0.00 ERA and ranks second with a .345 batting average and a .976 fielding percentage.

Individually, Ericka Harris leads the A-Sun with a .500 batting average, while Kendall Settlemyre tops the conference with a 1.000 slugging percentage and .647 on-base percentage. Hannah Alexander leads the A-Sun with six wins, a 0.00 ERA and 47 strikeouts, while Lacey Dinney tops the league with a .068 opponent batting average.

Spartans 19th in Mid-Major Top 25 Poll
After starting the season with a 6-0 record, Upstate finds itself ranked No. 19 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25 poll released by midmajorpoll.blogspot.com on Monday. The Spartans are one of two A-Sun schools in the poll with Stetson coming in at No. 21.

Spartan Duo Nearing 100 Career Hits
Ericka Harris and Janna Lewis have been starters since their freshmen seasons and have been key members of the team. They are both nearing 100 career hits. Harris enters the weekend needing just two hits to reach 100 in her career, while Lewis is seven hits shy of the century mark.