21st-Ranked Spartans Fall in A-Sun Tourney Thriller, Eliminated From Tourney
5/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nashville, Tenn. – After falling behind by five runs, the 21st-ranked USC Upstate softball team rallied to tie the game against Florida Gulf Coast at 7-7 in the sixth inning. However, FGCU got a solo home run in the seventh to take an 8-7 victory over the Spartans in the first elimination game of the day at the A-Sun Tournament at Draper Diamond.
Upstate fell to 45-7 on the year and will wait for the NCAA Selection Show to see if it earns an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPNU. Last year, there were 11 teams with an RPI of 30 or higher that earned an at-large berth. Upstate finished the regular season ranked 28th in the NCAA RPI.
FGCU improved to 33-25-1 on the year and advanced to play Mercer in the loser's bracket final for a spot in the final on Championship Saturday to take on Stetson.
"This is certainly not the way we wanted to end the tournament," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We didn't play in this tournament the way we have all year long and that was disappointing. But, I was proud of how well we battled back to tie the game. I believe the body of work we have put in this season will keep us playing next week."
After retiring the first two outs of the inning, Upstate ran into trouble in the top of the first inning. A hit, walk and hit batter loaded the bases. Kirsten Bembnowski then delivered a two-run single to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Upstate got a run back in the bottom of the inning when she slapped a single through the right side to score Cheyenne Griffin from third and cut the Eagle lead to 2-1.
FGCU extended the lead back to two runs, 3-1, on Jessica Barnes' sacrifice fly in the top of the second.
Upstate loaded the bases with one out against FGCU starter Jackie Owen after drawing two walks, a ground out that moved the runners to second and third and another walk. Owen was replaced by Shelby Parker in the circle with Parker having to face Kendall Settlemyre with the bases loaded.
Settlemyre slapped a ball up the middle and the attempted force out at second was unsuccessful as the Eagle defensive player was off the bag. Dana Landers scored from third to cut the FGCU lead to 3-2 on the play. Morgan got a force out at the plate and a strikeout to get out of the inning without any further damage.
Hannah Alexander replaced Upstate starter Lexi Shubert to start the third inning. After getting two outs with a runner on first, FGCU's Bembnowski hit a RBI double to right center as the Eagles again extended their lead to two runs at 4-2. Brittney Garabedian singled through the right side to drive in Bembnowski as FGCU opened a 5-2 advantage.
Upstate ran into more trouble in the fourth inning. After getting two quick outs, the Eagles loaded the bases with a single against Alexander and then a pair of walks against the third Spartan pitcher, Anna Miller. Alexis Ross followed with a two-run single up the middle to make it a 7-2 lead for the Eagles.
Upstate cut the lead to 7-4 in the fifth. The Spartans put runners on second and third with one out when Hayley Reinfeld drove in a run on a ground out. Meredith Barnes then reached on an error as another Spartan crossed the plate to cut the deficit to three runs heading into the final two innings.
While Upstate attempted to scratch back into the game, Miller calmed things down in the circle. FGCU had scored at least one run in each of the first four innings to build its lead. However, Miller held the Eagles scoreless in the fifth and sixth to keep the Spartans in the game.
Upstate kept its rally going in the bottom of the sixth. The Spartans put runners on first and second with one out and Kendall Settlemyre singled to score a pair of runs to get within 7-6. Griffin followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Maddison Kieffer followed with an RBI ground out to tie the game at 7-7.
Just as the tide turned in Upstate's favor in the sixth, FGCU got another key hit from Bembnowski who led off the top of the seventh with a solo home run to give FGCU the lead back at 8-7. Upstate put a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh, but a pair of force outs at second ended the game. It was just the second time this season the Spartans had given up eight runs in a game.
Miller took the loss for Upstate after allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in three and a third innings of work. Morgan improved to 13-8 on the year after allowing five runs on six hits in 5 and two-thirds innings.
Settlemyre finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs to lead Upstate at the plate. Griffin had three hits and two runs.
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