Box Score
Box Score (.pdf)
Fort Myers, Fla. – Holly McKinnon became the first pitcher since 2001 to throw a no-hitter in the conference tournament as her second of the season propelled the second-seeded USC Upstate softball team into the A-Sun Softball Championship game following a 3-0 win over the top-seed Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Friday afternoon at the FGCU Softball Complex.
Upstate improves to 41-13 on the season while FGCU falls to 31-26 overall.
McKinnon (25-6) tossed the third no-hitter this year for the Spartans and 28th in program history. She allowed just two walks in the contest and struck out five. McKinnon also recorded a no-hitter on April 24 against Kennesaw State. Ashley Dobson (4-9) suffered the loss after giving up three runs on five hits, one walk and no strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work.
Ansley Gilstrap and Megan Obier both went 2-for-3 to lead Upstate offensively, while Megan Obier, Brittany Case and Kori Wancheck each had one RBI. Makensie McAvoy and Racquel Fournet reached on walks for the Eagles.
The Spartans struck first with a single run in the first, second and third innings to lead 3-0.
Gilstrap led off the game with the first triple of the tournament to right field and would score the following at-bat on Obier's groundout to second base. Abbie Millete began the top of the second with a double and was pinch-run for by Kristen Wright. Wright moved to third on Case's groundout and came home after a single to right field by Wancheck. In the third, Amy Szymanowski was plated by Case's RBI fielder's choice. Upstate loaded the bases to begin the third as Szymanowski, Millete and Karla Beasley all reached base with one out.
McKinnon allowed just two baserunners all afternoon with the first coming in the bottom of the second on a leadoff walk to Fournet. The junior then retired 15 batters in a row before giving up a walk to McAvoy in the seventh.
The Spartans looked to add to their lead in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases again with no outs. FGCU held Upstate scoreless in the frame as Gabbee Draney, brought on to pitch in the inning in place of Taylor Wade, got three outs in a row on a line out, fielder's choice and ground out.
After surrendering the walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh, McKinnon got Louie Ross to line out to Szymanowski at third base and struck out Fournet. She completed the no-hitter after Carissa Licata also lined out to Gilstrap at shortstop.
The Spartans advance to the championship round on Saturday and will play at 1 p.m. against either FGCU, Stetson or Kennesaw State. The winner of the Stetson/Kennesaw State game will play FGCU at 5:30 p.m. tonight.
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