Clearwater, Fla. – USC Upstate fell behind early and could not get back even as Central Michigan claimed a 10-3 victory in the tournament finale for both teams in the USF Under Armour Showcase at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex Sunday afternoon.

Upstate ended the tournament with a 2-3 record, having claimed wins over No. 23 Syracuse and Penn State and taking losses from Villanova, Boston University and Central Michigan. The Spartans are 20-4 on the year. Central Michigan improved to 8-9 on the year and finished the tournament 5-0.

Upstate committed six errors in the game leading to five unearned runs. One of Upstate's runs was unearned after one Central Michigan error.

"This was not the way we wanted to end the tournament," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We are a better team than what we showed today. Give Central Michigan credit. They put pressure on us. We will take this loss and all of the positives and negatives in the tournament and use them as learning experiences as we attempt to get better and bring along our 12 freshmen."

Central Michigan struck first in the top of the first inning. Macy Merchant led off the inning with a bunt single and stole second with no outs. She advanced to third on a ground out. After Upstate starter Hannah Alexander (Lexington, N.C.) struck out Summer Knoop, Molly Coldren doubled to drive in Merchant for the game's first run. Alexander then got out of the inning by getting Chelsea Delamiell to pop out.

Central Michigan put something together in the top of the third inning. CarolAnn Sexauer reached with a leadoff walk and Merchant collected her second bunt single. Raechel Zahrn then reached after an error on her sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases with no outs.

After Alexander got a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Coldren singled to left to drive in a run. However, Upstate left fielder Shellie Robinson (DeLand, Fla.) gunned Merchant out at the plate for the second out. Brogan Darwin singled through the left side to bring in the second run of the inning to give the Chippewas a 3-0 lead.

Sexauer gave Central Michigan a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to left with two outs in the inning.

Upstate mounted a rally in the bottom of the fourth, putting runners on first and second with one out. A single by Janna Lewis (Huntersville, N.C.) loaded the bases, chasing Central Michigan starter Morgan Yuncker out of the game.

Upstate got on the board when Maddison Kieffer (Middleburg, Fla.) walked with the bases loaded. The Spartans made it a 4-2 game when Kendall Settlemyre (Hickory, N.C.) drove in a run on a ground out.

Just as quickly as Upstate got back in the game, Central Michigan regained the four-run advantage with two runs in the top of the fifth. Zahrn reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Knoop reached on an error and Zahrn scored from second on the play to give the Chippewas a 5-2 lead. Knoop advanced to third on a fly out and scored on Darwin's sacrifice fly. Both runs were unearned in the inning.

Central Michigan added an unearned run in the sixth inning to increase its lead to 7-2. Upstate mounted another comeback attempt in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. Pinch runner Haley Sheehan (Graniteville, S.C.) scored on a passed ball to cut the Chippewas lead to 7-3, but reliever Kristen Kuhlman got a strikeout to end the threat.

Central Michigan added three runs in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 10-3. Kuhlman tossed 3.2 innings of relief to earn the victory for the Chippewas and improve to 1-0 on the year. Alexander took the loss for Upstate and fell to 12-2 on the year.

Merchant and Coldren led Central Michigan at the plate. Merchant finished with three hits, while Coldren had two hits and two RBIs. Ashley Butler (Laurens, S.C.) and Lewis each had two hits for Upstate.

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