Game One Box (PDF) | Game Two Box (PDF)
Spartanburg, S.C. – Hannah Alexander and Anna Miller each turned in dominating performances in the circle and the 25th-ranked USC Upstate softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from S.C. State on a pair of one-hitters Saturday afternoon at Cyrill Stadium. The Spartans ended both games in the fifth inning due to the run rule, winning by scores of 8-0 and 15-0.
Upstate improved to 22-2 on the year with the wins and will turn its attention to the state of Florida for two key A-Sun series next week. The Spartans will travel to Stetson for a three-game series Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to defending A-Sun regular season champion North Florida next Saturday and Sunday. S.C. State fell to 4-10.
"I thought Hannah and Anna were dominant today," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "With the way they were pitching, we didn't need to score many runs. Overall, I was happy with the way we played, but we have to improve in some areas as we head to Florida for six big games against A-Sun competition."
The 15 runs in the second game win was the most scored by the Spartans since plating 18 runs On Feb. 23, 2013 against Howard.
Alexander was virtually untouchable throughout her start. She struck out the first nine batters of the game and 11 of the first 12. She allowed just one hit with 11 strikeouts and no walks to improve to 6-1 on the year. Bianney Gomez took the loss for S.C. State, allowing eight runs on 10 hits.
Upstate wasted no time to score in the first game with Dana Landers hitting a two-run home run to left to give the Spartans a two-run advantage. The Spartans kept it going in the second, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Paris Prusak drove in a run on a single and Aly Schneider plated a run on a sacrifice fly to give the Spartans a 4-0 advantage.
Upstate made it a 5-0 lead in the third on an RBI single by Kendall Settlemyre. Shellie Robinson gave Upstate a 6-0 lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to right. The Spartans ended the game on Danyele Smith's two-run single in the fifth to give Upstate an 8-0 win.
Landers and Settlemyre each led Upstate at the plate with two hits.
Just as Alexander was masterful in the first game, Miller was equally as impressive in the second. She struck out the side in the third and had at least two strikeouts in each inning. She allowed just one hit to match Alexander's one-hitter and struck out 11 to also match Alexander on the day and improve to 6-1.
Upstate again struck early, plating a pair of runs on Cheyenne Griffin's two-run single to open a 2-0 advantage.
Upstate broke the game open with five runs in the second inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Settlemyre began the scoring, advancing home on a throwing error after Lindsay Kelly singled. Prusak, Schneider and Landers each singled to drive in a run each, while Griffin plated the fifth run in the inning on a ground out.
Upstate again scored five runs in the bottom of the third to open a 12-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Ryan Rector drove in a run when she reached on an error. Kaitlyn Jaeger drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Lindsey Greeson followed with an RBI single. Marche Llanos ended the scoring with a two-run single up the middle.
Upstate added to its lead to open a 15-0 advantage in the fourth inning. Rector singled to drive in a run, Jaeger followed with an RBI single and Greeson drove in a run on a fielder's choice to account for the three runs in the inning.
Kelly led Upstate at the plate with three hits and three runs. Landers, Settlemyre and Prusak each had two hits for the Spartans.
S.C. State's Jareece Sayles took the loss.
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