SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate softball team swept Virginia and Tennessee Tech on the final day of the Wings ETC… Classic at Cyrill Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
In the first game of the afternoon the USC Upstate (12-2) came alive as they scored six runs in the first three innings against Virginia University. Freshman Tiffany Domingue and Max Barnes came through big hits for the Spartans in the opening game. Domingue led the Spartans with a pair of hits in the game, while Barnes led the Spartans with two-RBI's in the match.
 
In the circle Mallie Brown picked up her third win of the season after she gave up just two earned runs in six complete innings. Erin Hill came in to pitch the final inning of the game and faced the minimum as the Spartans picked up their first win of the afternoon.
 
In the second game of the day the Spartans used timely hitting and pitching to their advantage as they defeated Tennessee Tech by a final score of 3-2. Domingue once again came through the Spartans as she hit a two-run bomb to give USC Upstate a 2-1 lead. Savannah Grigsby came through with a clutch hit for the Spartans as she drove in the game winning run in the fifth inning.
 
In the circle Erin Hill picked-up her fourth win of the season after she pitched five innings of relief for USC Upstate.  
 
Game One: USC Upstate 6, Virginia 2
 
Scoring Breakdown
 
Bottom 2^nd: Tiffany Domingue roped a one-out single through the left side of the infield to give the Spartans a base runner. Domingue then stole second base and Max Barnes drew a walk to put a runner in scoring position. After a fly out by Alicia Dorgan moved Domingue over to third base, the Spartans put on the double steal and the Virginia shortstop through the ball away in a run down. The error allowed for Domingue to score and Barnes to move to third base. Mallie Brown helped her own cause in the circle as slapped an RBI single through the left side of the infield to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
 
Bottom 3^rd: Sarah Price reached on a throwing error by the Virginia pitcher. Price then advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third base on the following pitch. With one out in the inning Alyssa Oakes came through with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Moments later Domingue hit an RBI double off the left center field wall and Max Barnes followed it up with a two-run bomb over the center field fence.
 
Top 5^th: Trailing 6-0 in the fifth inning, Virginia picked up a pair of runs in the inning off a bases loaded walk and an RBI ground out to the shortstop.
 
Notables
Tiffany Domingue was the only Spartan to end the game with two hits in the ball game, a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Max Barnes went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs and two RBI's in the contest. Alyssa Oakes and Mallie Brown each picked up RBI's hits in the game.
 
Mallie Brown picked up her third win of the season after pitching six complete innings and striking out a trio of players in the process.
 
Game Two: USC Upstate 3, Tennessee Tech 2
 
Scoring Breakdown
 
Top 3^rd: Tennessee Tech struck first with a Haile Bryson RBI ground out with one out in the inning.
 
Bottom 4^th: Alyssa Oakes began the inning by reaching on an error by the Golden Eagles third baseman. One batter later and Tiffany Domingue hit a two-run homerun over the left field wall to give the Spartans the lead.
 
Top 5^th: A one out homerun by Love-Baker tied the game going into the bottom half of the fifth inning.
 
Bottom 5^th: The Spartans stepped up in the bottom of the inning, Erin Hill hit a leadoff single through the right side of the infield. Dezi Williams then reached on a single and a Sarah Price sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Savannah Grigsby hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score the winning run for the Spartans.
 
Notables
Domingue went led the Spartans with a pair of RBI's in the game, while Grigsby drove in the game winning run on a sacrifice fly.
 
Erin Hill picked up a win inside the circle as she gave up just one earned run in five innings of relief for the Spartans.
 
Next UP:
USC Upstate will travel down to the coast of the Palmetto State this coming weekend as they participate in the Coastal Carolina Tournament.
 
The Spartans next home game will be on Saturday, March 7^th against South Carolina State. The double-header will begin at 2:00 p.m.
 
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