Game Box (PDF)

DeLand, Fla. – The USC Upstate softball team gave up seven runs in the middle innings and fell, 8-5, in the A-Sun series finale at Stetson Wednesday afternoon at Patricia Wilson Field.

Upstate fell to 23-4 overall and 4-2 in the A-Sun with the loss. The Spartans will stay in Florida and travel to face defending A-Sun regular season champion North Florida for a three-game series Saturday and Sunday. Stetson improved to 14-4 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

"We weren't ourselves defensively today," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "I know we will be more focused the next time we play. We will put this loss behind us and turn our attention to playing a tough North Florida team this weekend."

Upstate started quickly, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. The Spartans benefitted by timely hitting and costly Stetson errors. With a runner on second and two outs, Maddison Kieffer singled to center to drive in Settlemyre from second and advanced to second on an error. She then scored when Cheyenne Griffin reached on an error. Meredith Barnes followed with a triple to score Griffin and give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.

Stetson answered with a run in the bottom of the first on Amanda Grimaldo's RBI single. The Hatters would go on to load the bases with two outs, but Upstate starter Hannah Alexander got Kayla Drury to line out for the third out of the inning.

Stetson tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Meredith Owen hit a two-run home run to left. The Hatters took a 5-3 lead on Brittany Hawn's two-run double later in the inning.

Upstate looked to respond in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. However, Owen got a pop up and a strikeout to end the Spartan threat.

Stetson added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Hatters loaded the bases after an infield single, walk and infield error. Grimaldo came through again, this time with a two-run single to center to give Stetson a 7-3 lead. Drury followed with a sacrifice fly to make it an 8-3 Hatter advantage.

Upstate attempted to get back in the game in the sixth. The Spartans put runners on first and second with one out, but a fielder's choice force out at third and line out to short ended the rally attempt.

Settlemyre ended the five-inning scoring drought for Upstate in the seventh, leading off the inning with a solo home run to right and cutting the Stetson lead to 8-4. With runners on first and third and one out, Barnes reached on an error to score a run and cut the deficit to 8-5, while also leaving runners on first and second. Owen struck out the next Spartan and ended the game by inducing a fly out to end the Upstate rally.

Upstate out-hit Stetson, 12-8, for the game. However, the Spartans stranded nine runners on base. Barnes led Upstate at the plate with three hits and two RBIs. Settlemyre had two hits, two runs and an RBI, while Aly Schneider and Erin Schattle each collected a pair of hits.

Miller took the loss for Upstate. She went two innings and allowed four runs with three strikeouts to fall to 7-2 on the year. Owen earned the win in relief, tossing six innings and allowing two runs to improve to 7-2.

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