Game Box (PDF)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Lindsay Kelly belted a three-run home run, the first of her career, to break open the game in the fourth as the USC Upstate softball team took a 9-1 victory over visiting Presbyterian College Wednesday evening in non-conference action at Cyrill Stadium.

Upstate improved to 29-3 overall and extended its winning streak to eight games. The Spartans will return to action Saturday (DH, 4:00 p.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m.) in a key three-game A-Sun series at Cyrill Stadium. Presbyterian fell to 17-17 on the year with the loss.

"We continue to hit the ball at a high percentage and that is credit to how hard we work in practice and how the players feel about our team," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We have some tough conference games this weekend. We feel really good we can put forth a good effort in all facets of the game."

After Upstate starter Hannah Alexander (Lexington, N.C.) held Presbyterian scoreless in the top of the first, the Spartans made quick work in gaining control of the game in the bottom of the frame. Meredith Barnes (Salem, Ore.) doubled to lead off the inning and scored on Ericka Harris' (Piedmont, S.C.) double. After Upstate put runners on the corners, Harris scored on a throwing error by Presbyterian when Shellie Robinson (DeLand, Fla.) stole second.

Upstate added to the lead in the first when Cheyenne Griffin (Moore, S.C.) singled up the middle to drive in Maddison Kieffer (Middleburg, Fla.) from second to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.

Presbyterian got a run back in the top of the second on Kirby Legacki's solo home run to center, cutting the Upstate lead to 3-1.

Upstate broke the game open in the fourth inning, using the long ball to do the damage. With two runners on, Kelly (Jacksonville, Fla.) knocked her first career home run to gives the Spartans a 6-1 lead. Barnes connected on a solo shot, her sixth of the season, to give the Spartans back-to-back homers in the inning and a 7-1 advantage.

Upstate was not done. Kieffer came up with a runner on and knocked her fifth home run of the season to give Upstate a 9-1 lead, setting the Spartans up to end the game early.

The three home runs in the game for Upstate lifted its total to 35 on the year, tying Division I era school record.

Jamie Ujvari (Niceville, Fla.) entered the game in the fifth to close out the game for the Spartans. After striking out the first two batters on called third strikes, she struck out the final batter swinging to end the game in five innings.

Alexander went four innings, allowing just the Legacki solo home run and striking out five to improve to 13-2 on the year. Upstate retired the next 12 batters in order to end the game. Barnes, Harris and Griffin each had two hits for the Spartans. PC starter Kelsey Barnette fell to 2-3 on the year with the loss.

Follow the Spartans on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.