Box Score Game Box (PDF)
Spartanburg, S.C. – Lexi Shubert tossed a four-hit shutout and the Spartans got timely base hits as USC Upstate took the first game of the three-game A-Sun softball series, 4-0, Saturday night at Cyrill Stadium.
Upstate improved to 30-4 overall and 11-2 in the A-Sun with the win. It marked the 10th time in the last 11 years the Spartans have reached the 30-win plateau. Lipscomb fell to 27-6 overall and 8-4 in the league. The teams will wrap-up the series Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 12 noon.
"To see Lexi keep a very good hitting team off balance all day was really good," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "I look for them to come back strong tomorrow and I expect a battle all day. I am really happy to have the defense we have."
Upstate scratched an RBI hit in each of the first three innings to open a 3-0 lead and take control of the game early.
After Shubert struck out the side in the top of the first, Upstate struck first offensively in the bottom of the inning. Shellie Robinson singled to start the inning and moved to second on Dana Landers' ground out. Meredith Barnes singled up the middle to bring in Robinson from third as Upstate opened a 1-0 lead.
Upstate added to its lead in the bottom of the second when Erin Schattle doubled to score Kendall Settlemyre from second and give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. The Spartans made it a 3-0 advantage with an RBI single by Cheyenne Griffin to plate Landers from second.
Shubert took a perfect game into the fourth inning, but had the perfecto and no-hitter broken up on a single from Kelsey Cartwright.
Upstate got a couple of defensive gems from its outfielders in the sixth inning with Lipscomb threatening. With Bridgette Begle on second and one out, Brittany Elmore singled to center. Robinson came up firing and gunned down Begle at the plate for the second out of the inning. Paige Neely then came up and singled to left, but Elmore ranged too far off third and the Spartans got her out in a rundown for the third out of the inning, erasing the Lady Bisons threat. Barnes began the play, throwing in to third to catch Elmore off guard.
Upstate made it a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning when Ryan Rector reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Settlemyre.
Shubert was simply strong in the circle throughout the night. She went the distance, scattering four hits and striking out six to earn the win and improve to 13-1 on the year. Ashley Anderson went the distance, allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. She fell to 12-1 on the year.
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