Spartanburg, S.C. – Hannah Alexander turned in another strong performance in the circle and combined with Cassee Clauser to lift USC Upstate to a shutout of La Salle in the final game of the Upstate Softball Tournament Sunday. The Spartans claimed an 8-0 victory in five innings over the Explorers.

Upstate improved to 12-0 to start the season. The Spartans have now recorded 11 shutouts in the first 12 games of the season and have yet to allow an earned run in 2012. La Salle fell to 0-4 to begin the season.

"It was good to close out the tournament with a win," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We had a good weekend doing all of the things we need to be successful. We are doing the little things which is very reassuring. We had a good tournament, but we know we have a good Furman team coming up this week as well as another tournament next week. We will continue to work on the things we need to get better."

Upstate scored two runs in each of the first, second, fourth and fifth innings to take the win in five innings. Janna Lewis (Huntersville, N.C.) led the Spartans at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Cheyenne Griffin (Moore, S.C.) was 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Ericka Harris (Piedmont, S.C.) and Lindsay Kelly (Jacksonville, Fla.) each had a pair of hits.

Alexander was solid in the circle. She went four innings with six strikeouts. She allowed one hit, a single by Liz Reed in the third inning. Other than that, La Salle could not do anything with the sophomore. Alexander improved to 8-0 on the year. Clauser (Ladera Beach, Fla.) tossed a hitless inning in the fifth, striking out two to close things out.

Upstate jumped on top with two runs in the first inning. Shellie Robinson (DeLand, Fla.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Griffin picked up an RBI-single. The Spartans added to the lead with two runs in the second inning. Pinch runner Marche Llanos (Kapolie, Hawaii) stole home on a double steal play and Harris followed with an RBI-single.

Upstate made it a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning when Lewis scored on a passed ball and Butler drove in a run on a ground out. The Spartans ended the game with two runs in the fifth inning. Dana Landers (Simpsonville, S.C.) singled to lead off the inning for her first career hit and later scored on Kelly's triple to left. Kelly later scored on Lewis' RBI-single.

La Salle starter Kristin Travers fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss. She gave up four runs on five hits.

Upstate's Shellie Robinson was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting .667 with nine RBIs, nine runs and five home runs in the tournament. She had a slugging percentage of 2.333. She was joined on the all-tournament team by fellow Spartans Cheyenne Griffin (.667 BA, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R), Janna Lewis (.500 BA, 5 R, 3 RBI), Lacey Dinney (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 CG, 25 K) and Hannah Alexander (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 11 K).

Also selected to the all-tournament team were Liberty's Kelby Allen, Meredith Crisante and Amber Donavan; Savannah State's Amber Hallman and Madison Hedderly; and La Salle's Alicia Aughton.

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