Box Score Game Box (PDF)
Ft. Myers, Fla. – Freshman hurler Jamie Ujvari tossed a two-hitter to lead the USC Upstate softball team to a 3-0 victory at Florida Gulf Coast in a key A-Sun battle Sunday afternoon at the FGCU Softball Complex.
Upstate improved to 37-7 overall and 17-5 in the A-Sun with the win. The Spartans remained in first place in the conference standings and officially clinched a spot in the A-Sun Tournament. The win was the first for the Spartans in Ft. Myers. FGCU fell to 32-16 overall and 13-7 in the A-Sun with the loss.
"I'm really proud of how the team hung in there and battled on a very hot, sunny day," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "Jamie pitched very well and we stayed focused throughout the game to get an important win. I was pleased with our effort today."
Ujvari was outstanding in the circle for Upstate en route to earning her 17th win of the season and improving to 17-2 on the year and 11-2 in the A-Sun. She allowed just two hits with four strikeouts and allowed just one Eagle to reach second base.
For the third time in the series, Upstate scored first in the game, plating a run in the top of the first inning to open a 1-0 lead. Meredith Barnes (Salem, Ore.) continued her hot hitting, leading off the game with a single. She moved to second on Ericka Harris' (Piedmont, S.C.) sacrifice bunt and scored on Dana Landers' (Simpsonville, S.C.) squeeze bunt.
From there, it was a pitcher's duel as Upstate starter Jamie Ujvari (Niceville, Fla.), who took a tough loss Saturday in a low-scoring affair, and FGCU starter Amanda Josie were solid through the first portion of the game. After Upstate scored a run in the first, the teams battled for four consecutive scoreless innings before the Spartans extended their lead in the sixth.
Landers broke a four-inning scoring drought in the top of the sixth to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Shellie Robinson (DeLand, Fla.) walked with one out and scored all the way from first on Lander's double to the gap in left center. Pinch hitter Anna Miller (Portland, Ore.) added another insurance run when she smacked a double off the wall in center to score Landers and give the Spartans a 3-0 advantage.
Landers led Upstate at the plate, finishing with two hits and two RBIs.
Josie took the loss for FGCU after allowing three runs on six Upstate hits. She fell to 11-4 on the year.
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