Game 1 Box Score (.pdf)

Game 2 Box Score (.pdf)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Ansley Gilstrap compiled a team-high three hits, while Karla Beasley and Megan Obier had two RBI each, as the USC Upstate softball team opened its three-game series with the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles on Friday sweeping a doubleheader from Cyrill Stadium.

USC Upstate improves to 24-12 on the season and 5-3 in conference play while Florida Gulf Coast falls to 27-9 overall and 2-3 in the league.

The Spartans won the series opener 5-1 and then followed with a 4-2 victory in game two.

GAME ONE – FGCU 1, USC UPSTATE 5

Scoring Breakdown

• Bottom 1^st – Gilstrap used her speed to give USC Upstate a 1-0 lead in the first. After drawing a leadoff walk, Gilstrap moved to third on a throwing error by the Eagles. She would steal home following a throwback to the pitching circle by FGCU catcher Brooke Clemens.
• Bottom 4^th – The Spartans added to their lead at 3-0 after plating two more runs. Beasley started the frame hitting her team-leading 10^th home run of the season on a 3-2 pitch from Eagle starter Riley Randolph to left field. Obier added an RBI sacrifice fly that scored Makenna Helton, pinch-running for Logan Morris who had doubled two batters earlier.
• Bottom 5^th – Kristen Wright made it a 4-0 game in the fifth with her RBI single to left field. Gilstrap came home on the base hit after reaching on a two-out double to right center field.
• Top 6^th – Ashley Swiderski cut Florida Gulf Coast's deficit to 4-1 with her one-out homer to left center field.
• Bottom 6^th – USC Upstate answered with a single run of its own to go ahead 5-1 on Obier's third home run of the year, a solo blast, to left center field.

Notables

• Christina Biggerstaff (11-7) picked up the win throwing a complete game and surrendered one run on four hits, five walks and six strikeouts.
• Randolph (12-3) took the loss allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts in six innings of work.
• Beasley also hit the 39^th home run of her career and now puts her seven away from tying Stacey Berrong (1996-99) for second all-time in program history.
• Five different Spartans had one hit apiece in Gilstrap, Wright, Beasley, Morris and Obier.
• Obier led USC Upstate offensively with two RBI.
• Gilstrap scored two of the Spartans five runs.
• Kelsey Huff recorded two hits for the Eagles while Swiderski went 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

GAME TWO – FGCU 2, USC UPSTATE 4

Scoring Breakdown

• Top 2^nd – Swiderski gave FGCU an early 1-0 lead with her leadoff home run to left field.
• Top 3^rd – Clemens extended the Eagles lead to 2-0 with her RBI double to right center field.
• Bottom 3^rd – USC Upstate responded by scoring twice and tying the game at 2-2. Beasley started the scoring with her RBI single to right field plating Helton, who pinch-ran for Elisa Cecchetti following her single to center field. The Spartans then executed a double steal as Beasley went to second and Gilstrap, who also singled, came home from third.
• Bottom 4^th – Kayla Hussey put USC Upstate in the lead for good at 3-2 with one out on her RBI sacrifice fly to right field. Obier began the inning with an infield single and advanced to third on back-to-back stolen bases. She scored on Hussey's sacrifice fly.
• Bottom 5^th – The Spartans added to their lead in the fifth with a single run and made the score 4-2. Gilstrap posted a leadoff single to right field, stole second base and then went to third on Wright's groundout. Morris plated Gilstrap on her RBI single to left field.

Notables

• Caylie Van Auken (3-2) earned the win in relief after pitching four scoreless innings and gave up five hits and no walks while striking out three.
• Marissa Mesiemore (8-3) suffered the loss in four innings pitched and allowed three runs on four hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
• Gilstrap finished the game 2-for-3 for USC Upstate with two runs scored.
• Beasley, Morris and Hussey all contributed one RBI.
• Swiderski and Racquel Fournet both went 3-for-4 for Florida Gulf Coast.
• Swiderski collected one RBI along with Clemens.

UP NEXT

• The Spartans conclude their series with the Eagles tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.

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