CONWAY, S.C. – For the second consecutive day the USC Upstate softball team went 1-1 against Ohio University and Coastal Carolina in the 2020
Courtyard Marriott Barefoot Landing Invitational.
The Spartans came out ready to go in the first game of the day, but oddly enough despite the Spartans nine hit performance only a single run was able to cross the plate for USC Upstate. Ohio capitalized on a three-run homerun in the third inning to take the win against USC Upstate.
In game two of the afternoon the Spartans once again took their hitting frustrations out on their next opponent. USC Upstate took defeated Coastal Carolina by a score of 9-5 after a five-run outburst in the top of the fourth inning.
Erin Hill picked up her fifth win of the season, while
Sarah Price and Savannah Price each recorded a pair of hits in the victory.
Game One: Ohio 3, USC Upstate 1
Scoring Breakdown
Top 3rd: Molly Troutman walked with one out in the inning to put a runner on for the Bobcats. Troutman moved all the way over to third following a fielding error by USC Upstate and a sacrifice bunt. Troutman was able to walk home after Katie Yun hit a three-run homerun to break the scoreless tie between the two squads.
Bottom 5th: Celina Sullivan helped herself out offensively by hitting a leadoff homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Notables
Both
Tiffany Domingue and
Peyton Darnell ended the game with a pair of hits to lead the Spartan offense. Sullivan's solo shot in the fifth was the only RBI of the game for USC Upstate. Sullivan threw a complete game and allowed just two hits and 0 earned runs. The Senior also struck out six batters in the loss for USC Upstate.
Game Two: USC Upstate 9, Coastal Carolina 5
Scoring Breakdown
Top 3rd: With one out in the inning
Sarah Price belted a solo homerun over the centerfield wall to break the scoreless tie between USC Upstate and Coastal Carolina. Price now has two homeruns on the season.
Bottom 3rd: Taylor Sweigart hit a single to begin the inning and came around to score on a Stavi Augur two out infield single.
Top 4th: Alyssa Oakes crushed her first homerun of the season in the top of the fourth inning to give the Spartans a 2-1 edge.
Alicia Dorgan then reached on a hit by pitch and moved to second base after
Truett Taylor reached on a fielding error. Moments later
Savannah Grigsby stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and came through with an RBI knock down the left field line.
Tiffany Domingue kept the inning alive with a two run single to right field. With two outs in the inning Grigsby raced home after the Coastal Carolina pitcher threw the ball away. The Spartans held a 6-1 advantage after the inning was all said and done.
Top 5th: In the top of the fifth inning the Spartans tacked on to their lead with RBI's by Grigsby and
Peyton Darnell. USC Upstate also scored on a double steal as Grigsby stole second base and
Alexa Sanchez stole home.
Bottom 5th: Trailing 9-1 going into the fifth inning Abbey Montoya hit a leadoff homerun over the center field wall to get a run back for Coastal Carolina.
Bottom 6th: Makiya hit an RBI infield single to make the game a 9-3 deficit for Coastal Carolina.
Bottom 7th: A two-run double by Courtney Dean gave the Spartans a scare in the bottom of the seventh inning but USC Upstate was able to close out the game as Coastal Carolina lost 9-5.
Notables
Sarah Price and
Savannah Grigsby both led the offense with a pair of hits and a pair of runs.
Alicia Dorgan also scored a pair of runs, while Grigsby and
Tiffany Domingue each had a pair of RBI's in the contest.
Alyssa Oakes hit her first home run of the season and
Alexa Sanchez recorded her first career hit in the win for USC Upstate.
UP next for the Spartans
USC Upstate will stay on the road this coming Wednesday with a trip to Duke, the double-header will start at 3:00 p.m.
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