SPARTANBURG, S.C. – WEATHER UPDATE: Saturday's Upstate softball home opener, originally slated for 1pm at Cyrill Stadium, has been delayed by snow. The Spartans will now play Bucknell at 5:00 pm or when conditions improve. The remaining games on Saturday's slate for the Upstate Classic – Upstate vs. Towson and Towson vs. Marshall - have been canceled. Sunday's schedule has not changed

The USC Upstate softball team begins the 2020 season in the Upstate Classic Tournament located at Cyrill Softball Stadium on the campus of USC Upstate.
 
USC Upstate is coming off a 41-15 season and a runner-up finish in the Big South Conference. The Spartans return one of the most formidable hitters in the conference in senior catcher Alyssa Oakes. Oakes has been named the Big South Preseason Player of the Year and to the Top-50 watch list by USA Softball. Senior Erin Hill returns to the circle for the Spartans after a solid junior season. Hill had a 14-9 record with 2.15 era and four saves on the season. The senior recorded 94 strikeouts in 123.2 innings of work.
 
50 game starters Sarah Price and Alicia Dorgan also return to the team this season. Price led the team in runs last season with 47 and finished second on the team in total hits with 59. Dorgan returns after finishing second on the team with 7 homeruns last season. Madison Lanoux, Savannah Grigsby Marisa Soterakis and pitcher Celina Sullivan all return for the Spartans as well.
 
The Upstate Classic is the first of three tournaments hosted on the campus of USC Upstate this season. Bucknell, Towson, Saint Francis and Marshall will all be participating in the tournament this season. The tournament is setup in a round robin format played over the course of the weekend. A full schedule will be listed below with game times. Throughout the tournament the schedule will be updated with post game box scores.
 
Upstate Classic Schedule Updated as of 1:30pm 2/8/2020
 
Friday February 7^th, 2020
3:00 PM – Towson vs. Bucknell
5:00 PM – St. Francis vs. Marshall
7:00 PM – Bucknell vs. Marshall

Saturday February 8^th, 2020
11:00 AM – Bucknell vs. St. Francis
5:00 PM (tentative, when weather conditions allow) – Bucknell vs. Upstate

Sunday February 9^th, 2020
11:00 AM – St. Francis vs. Towson
1:00 PM – St. Francis vs. Upstate
3:00 PM – Marshall vs. Upstate

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