Game 1 Box Score (.pdf)

Game 2 Box Score (.pdf)

Nashville, Tenn. – The USC Upstate softball team closed out its three-game series with the Lipscomb Bisons on Sunday afternoon splitting a doubleheader from Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium.

The Spartans move their record to 21-10 on the season and 3-3 in conference play while the Bisons are 19-9 overall and 1-2 in the league.

USC Upstate dropped the doubleheader opener 12-11 in eight innings but responded in the finale winning 2-0 in five innings.

GAME ONE – USC UPSTATE 11, LIPSCOMB 12 (8)

Scoring Breakdown

• Top 1^st – The Spartans broke the game open early scoring five times to take a 5-0 lead. Kayla Hussey highlighted the inning with her two-RBI double to right field. Kristen Wright started the scoring with her RBI infield single while Logan Morris added an RBI single to left field and Elisa Cecchetti an RBI groundout to second base.
• Bottom 1^st – The Bisons answered with three runs to cut USC Upstate's lead to 8-3. Hannah Devault plated two runs with her RBI double down the left field line and Sarah Higgins contributed an RBI single to left field.
• Top 2^nd – The Spartans came back with three more runs, all with two outs, to extend their lead to 8-3. Morris scored the first two runs on her third home run of the season to left field. Megan Obier followed with a double and then scored on an RBI single to center field by Brittany Case.
• Bottom 3^rd – Lipscomb made it an 8-4 game on a solo home run to left center field by Jordan Fortel.
• Bottom 4^th – The Bisons took a 9-8 lead after scoring five runs, with four coming on a pair of two-run home runs by Higgins and Abby Fenichel. Fortel added an RBI single to center field.
• Top 5^th – USC Upstate regained the lead at 11-9 following a three-run inning. The Spartans loaded the bases and Wright drove in the first run on an RBI groundout to second base. Morris brought in her fourth and fifth RBI of the game with her two-run single to left field.
• Bottom 6^th – Lipscomb tied the game again at 11-11 on an RBI single by Caitlin Plocheck while the second run scored on a USC Upstate throwing error.
• Bottom 8^th – Higgins won the game for the Bisons, 12-11, on her RBI double down the left field line.

Notables

• Mandy Jordan (12-1) earned the win in relief throwing two scoreless innings and allowed no hits on two walks.
• Christina Biggerstaff (9-6) took the loss giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief.
• Morris finished the game 4-for 5 and set new career-highs with five RBI and two runs scored. The four hits are also a career-high for the freshman.
• Hussey added two RBI while Wright, Case and Cecchetti had one each.
• Ansley Gilstrap and Karla Beasley both scored two runs.
• Higgins went 4-for-4 to lead Lipscomb with four RBI and two runs scored.
• Devault contributed four runs scored, three hits and two RBI.

GAME TWO – USC UPSTATE 2, LIPSCOMB 0 (5)

Scoring Breakdown

• Top 1^st – For the second straight game, the Spartans struck first with two runs in the top of the first to go ahead 2-0. Beasley singled home Gilstrap and later scored on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Obier.

Notables

• Erin Hill (7-2) picked up the win throwing all five innings and did not surrender a run on three hits, one walk and one strikeout.
• Jordan (12-2) suffered the loss allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
• Gilstrap led USC Upstate offensively with two hits in three plate appearances and scored one run.
• Wright, Beasley and Case contributed one hit each.
• Obier had one RBI and Beasley one run scored.
• Plocheck went 2-for-2 for the Bisons while Devault posted one hit.

UP NEXT

• The Spartans remain on the road next week, March 27-28, for three non-conference games at N.C. State and Duke.

Follow USC Upstate softball on Facebook (UpstateAthletics), Twitter (@UpstateSoftball), Instagram (@upstatespartans), YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics) and text/e-mail alerts (www.upstatespartans.com/list-signup).