Highland Heights, Ky. – Anna Miller tossed a no-hitter in game two and Upstate hammered out 33 hits and scored 30 runs in a doubleheader sweep at Northern Kentucky Saturday afternoon in A-Sun softball action at Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field. The Spartans won by scores of 18-0 and 12-0. With the win in game one, Upstate became the first team to clinch a spot in the A-Sun Championship this season.
Miller was simply dominant in game two. She went the distance in the five-inning shortened game due to the mercy rule, striking out 12 batters en route to pitching the fifth no-hitter of her Upstate career. It was also her third no-hitter of the season, the most thrown in own season in the history of the program. She is one shy of the career record of six by all-time great Morgan Childers.
The 18 runs scored by Upstate in game one were the most scored by the Spartans against an A-Sun opponent since joining the league in 2007-08. It also stands as the most runs scored overall since the Spartans scored 18 against Howard on Feb. 23, 2013. The school record for runs scored is 30 against Fayetteville State in 2005. The 21 hits were also the most hit in a game in Upstate's Division I era and the most since hitting 24 against Fayetteville State in 2005. The 30 combined runs were also the most scored in a doubleheader during Upstate's Division I era.
Upstate improved to 38-5 overall and 17-2 in the A-Sun with the sweep. Northern Kentucky fell to 3-34 overall and 1-16 in the league. The teams will complete their three-game series tomorrow at 12 noon.
"It was good to score some runs early. We were able to work some players into the game who have worked really hard and get them some experience. I am so proud of Anna for pitching another no-hitter. She was untouchable today," commented Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins.
Upstate didn't take long to get on the scoreboard in game one. Shellie Robinson reached on a double to lead off the game and scored on Kendall Settlemyre's single up the middle. The early offense foreshadowed the entire inning as the first eight Spartans got a hit before NKU was able to retire the first out on a fielder's choice.
After Meredith Barnes drove in a run to make it a 3-0 game, Dana Landers followed with a three-run home run to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead. Upstate made it a 7-0 advantage when Hayley Reinfeld scored on an error by the left fielder on Settlemyre's fly out as Upstate sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning.
Upstate kept the offense rolling, plating nine runs to open a 16-0 advantage in the second inning. Erin Scttale walked with the bases loaded to start things off. Settlemyre, Cheyenne Griffin, Maddison Kieffer, Barnes and Landers each came up with RBI hits to do the damage for the Spartans. The Spartans sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning. Upstate added a run in the third inning on Griffin's RBI double to make it a 17-0 lead.
Lindsay Kelly ended the scoring in the game when she scored on a passed ball in the fourth to give the Spartans an 18-0 lead. Upstate scored 18 runs on 21 hits and three NKU errors.
Upstate starter Lexi Shubert earned the win, tossing three innings of scoreless ball to improve to 16-1. She struck out six and allowed just two hits. Hannah Alexander relieved Shubert to start the fourth and went two innings to finish the game. She did not allow a hit. NKU starter Alex Caudill took the loss and fell to 0-19 on the year.
Five Spartans – Settlemyre, Griffin, Kieffer, Barnes and Landers - finished the game with three hits each. Landers collected four RBIs, while Griffin and Barnes had three each.
Game two started just like game one with a double by Robinson. She later scored on Griffin's RBI single up the middle as Upstate opened a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Settlemyre later scored when Griffin got in a rundown play between first and second to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. The Spartans made it a 4-0 lead when Lindsay Kelly reached on a fielder's choice and the throw to third for the attempted force out went wide, allowing two runs to score on the play. Another run came across on an error as Upstate opened a 5-0 advantage, bringing up the top of the order.
Kieffer gave Upstate a 7-0 lead in the top of the second when she belted a two-run home run to center. It was the sixth homer of the season for the junior, tying her season-best total from 2013. After Landers collected her 100th career hit, Erin Schattle belted a two-run homer as the Spartans opened a 9-0 lead.
Robinson made it an 11-0 lead in the third with a monster two-run home run to left center. It was her 45th career homer, bringing her within one of the career school record of 46 held by Upstate Athletics Hall of Fame member Stacey Berrong. When she crossed the plate, it was her 142nd career run, breaking the school's Division I era record of 141 held by former standout Kim Brasil. The Spartans took a 12-0 lead on Landers' two-out single.
Miller was simply dominant. She improved to 14-3 with the perfect game after earning the win. NKU starter Alyssa Enrique fell to 2-9 with the loss.
Landers led the Spartans at the plate with three hits. Robinson and Schattle each had two hits two RBIs.
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