SPARTANBURG, S.C.  – USC Upstate sophomore third baseman Marisa Soterakis (Miramar, Fla) shot a single through the legs of the Gardner-Webb third baseman to score Olivia Marshall (Mooresville, N.C.) and gave the Spartans a 2-1 victory in front of a school record crowd at Cyrill Softball Stadium and a nationally televised win on ESPNU.
 
With the victory USC Upstate moves to 23-13 overall on the season and 10-3 in Big South action. Gardner-Webb falls to 5-27 overall and 4-15 in Big South play this year.
 
In the top of the first inning, USC Upstate committed an unlikely error to start the game and allowed Katie Mitchell to reach. A sacrifice bunt from Leslie McNeil moved Mitchell into scoring position, following a groundout from Weslyn Almond, Mitchell stood just 60 feet away from home plate. Two batters later and Brooke Perry flied out centerfield to end the inning.
 
A pitcher's battle then ensued for both sides, as the Spartans were held without a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning. Peyton Darnell (Fort Mill, S.C.) reached on an infield single and Dezi Williams (Old Fort, N.C.) came in to pinch run. Williams stole second and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Savannah Grigsby (Elgin, S.C.). Unfortunately, the Spartans ran into a bit of bad luck and stranded Williams at third.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Darnell ripped a two-out single down the left field line to keep the inning alive. A walk from Grigsby moved Darnell into scoring position. Bre Cooper (Massillon, Ohio) singled to left field on a 0-1 count and scored Darnell from second to break the scoreless tie.
 
With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Mitchell reached on an infield single and moved into scoring position on the next at bat. Weslyn Almond doubled to left centerfield and tied the game at one.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Hallie Mele (Denver, N.C.) began the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Marshall came in to pinch run for Mele and stole second to move into scoring position. A wild pitch moved Marshall to third base and gave Soterakis a hitters count with no outs in the inning. Soterakis came through with an RBI single through the legs of the third baseman as the stadium erupted in joy for the Spartans win.
 
USC Upstate 2, Gardner-Webb 1

Scoring Breakdown
 
Bottom 6^th: Darnell singled down the left field line and moved to second on a walk by Grigsby. Cooper singled in Darnell with a single to left field.
 
Top 7^th: Mitchell singled to the shortstop and moved to second on a ground out. Almond doubled to center field to tie the game.
 
Bottom 7^th: Mele began the inning with a leadoff single through the left side of the infield. A stolen base and a wild pitch set Soterakis up for the walk-off hit through the legs of the Runnin' Bulldogs third baseman.  

Notables
 Darnell: 2-3, run scored
Cooper: 1-3, RBI
Mele: 1-3
Soterakis: 1-2, RBI
Mallie Brown: 4.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB
Adison Yoder: W, 3.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will play a double header tomorrow afternoon against Gardner-Webb starting at 3:00 p.m. in their final home games of the season.
 
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