Upstate Comeback Falls Short in 7-5 Loss at South Carolina

Wednesday, March 15

Columbia, S.C. (SEC Network +)

6 pm

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

23-5

South Carolina

19-7

USC Upstate

South Carolina

3/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (.pdf)

Columbia, S.C. – Abbie Millete had a season-high three hits to lead the USC Upstate softball team offensively but it was not enough as the Spartans fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks 7-5 in non-conference play Wednesday evening at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.

Upstate falls to 23-5 on the season while South Carolina improves to 19-7 overall.

Scoring Breakdown

Top 1^st – Karla Beasley put the Spartans in front of the Gamecocks 1-0 just three batters into the game with her RBI double to left field that scored Ansley Gilstrap. Gilstrap began the game getting hit by a pitch and stole second base.
Bottom 3^rd – South Carolina plated seven runs in its half of the third to take a 7-1 lead over Upstate. The Gamecocks hit two home runs in the inning including a grand slam to left field by Krystan White. Victoria Williams added a two-run homer and Kennedy Clark an RBI single to left field.
Top 4^th – The Spartans used the long ball to cut their deficit to 7-4 courtesy of a three-run home run to left field by Alicia Dorgan. Upstate put its first three runners on to start the frame as Millete singled, Brittany Case hit into a fielder's choice and Megan Obier reached on an infield single. Case and Obier scored on Dorgan's homer.
Top 5^th – Millete made it a 7-5 game with two outs on her RBI double into the right center field gap. After the first two Spartan batters were retired, Beasley reached on a single and was pinch-run for by Gemma Miller. Miller came home on the double from Millete.

Notables

Lexi Shubert (10-3) suffered the loss for Upstate after allowing six runs on six hits, no walks and three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work.
Cayla Drotar (4-1) earned the win for South Carolina after pitching 4.2 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits, no walks and two strikeouts.
Nickie Blue (3) picked up the save throwing 2.1 scoreless innings of relief and surrendered one hit and one walk while striking out six.
Millete finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate and tied her career-high of three hits while driving in one run.
Dorgan had a career-high three RBI following her second home run of the season.
Beasley added two hits and one RBI in four plate appearances.
Clark and White both collected two hits for the Gamecocks while White contributed four RBI.

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