Game Box (PDF)

Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate softball team belted three home runs and got a solid performance in the circle from Lexi Shubert to close out the Buffalo Wild Wings Spartan Invitational with a 7-2 victory over Ball State Monday afternoon at Cyrill Stadium.

Upstate improved to 8-0 on the year with the win and will travel to Gardner-Webb Wednesday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00. Ball State fell to 4-2 on the year with its losses coming to the Spartans and Virginia Tech.

"We came out swinging against a very good team today. Our defense stepped up after being shaky last night and made some crucial plays at crucial times. Lexi seemed to keep them off-balance for most of the day. While we still have work to do, I am pretty proud of where we are right now," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins.

Shellie Robinson gave Upstate an early lead, belting a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to open a 2-0 advantage. It was her team-leading fourth homer of the season. The Spartans padded their lead in the second inning. After putting runners on second and third with no outs and chasing Ball State starter Nicole Steinbach out of the game, Aly Schneider singled with one out to drive in a run. Dana Landers followed with a single to center that plated a run as Upstate opened a 4-0 lead.

Shubert was strong early on. She struck out two batters in each of the first and second innings and did not allow a hit. She ran into a little trouble in the third, allowing back-to-back singles with two outs. However, she induced a fly out to right to end the threat.

Ball State put runners on first and second with one out in the fifth. However, Shubert's defense bailed her out of the jam with a big double play to end the threat. Loren Cihlar singled past a diving Maddison Kieffer and into left field where Spartan leftfielder Meredith Barnes came up firing to nail pinch runner Taylor Cooley at the plate. Spartan catcher Erin Schattle then threw out Briana Evans trying to advance to third for the double play and to get the Spartans out of the inning.

Kendall Settlemyre kept it rolling offensively for the Upstate, belting a two-run homer to right center that cleared the fence by some 25 feet to give Upstate a commanding 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch hitter Kaitlyn Jaeger followed with a solo home run to center giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead.

Ball State would not go away quietly, putting runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the seventh. After a strikeout, Evans singled to center to drive in two and cut the Upstate lead to 7-2. Shubert buckled down and got a fielder's choice force out and a pop out to end the inning and the game.

Shubert improved to 4-0 with the win. She struck out five en route to her third complete game of the season. Robinson led the way offensively for Upstate, finishing with two hits and two RBIs, while Settlemyre drove in a pair of runs on her homer and Landers finished with a pair of hits.

Steinbach took the loss for Ball State, falling to 1-2 on the year. She allowed four runs on four hits in an inning of work. Four Cardinals pitched in the game against the Spartans.

Buffalo Wild Wings Spartan Invitational
Amended Schedule
Sunday, February 16
Game 1 - Virginia Tech 5, Ball State 4
Game 2 - Ball State 2, George Mason 0
Game 3 - Upstate 8, Virginia Tech 1
Game 4 - Upstate 3, George Mason 2
Game 5 - Appalachian State 4, Presbyterian 1

Monday, February 17
Game 6 - Upstate 7, Ball State 2

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