SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate Softball recorded its fourth straight shutout win as the Spartans closed out a double-header against Winthrop to go 2-0 before concluding the three-game series Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans began game one with four scoreless innings as Hannah Houge struck out six batters swinging and three looking to keep Winthrop off the board through the top of the fifth inning. Upstate scored first in the bottom of the fifth inning, as an Eagle error left room for two Spartan runs. This momentum helped stack one more run in the fifth and a final run in the bottom of the sixth as Denver Lauer was walked with the bases load. Houge recorded her 19th win of the season as well as her 16th complete game of the season with the 12 strikeouts she had today.
Game two started scoreless for the first two complete innings before Delorenzo would get things started for Upstate with a single to left center to bring Sarah Price home in the bottom of the third. Delorenzo went on to get a run of her own while Tiffany Domingue put one on the board as well to give Upstate the 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Marisa Soterakis scored in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead for the Spartans. Peyton Darnell put the game out of reach for the Eagles with a home run over the wall in left center. Alyssa Kelly completed her eleventh complete game, achieving her 12th win while she had seven strikeouts.
Game One
Score: USC Upstate 4; Winthrop 0
Records: USC Upstate (32-3); Winthrop (11-22)
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
How It Happened
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B5: Marisa Soterakis hit a ball to the Eagles' first baseman who allowed Soterakis to reach with an error. Her error provided enough time for Celeste Delorenzo and pinch runner Caroline Jacquay to reach home.
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B5: Soterakis put her own run on the board after touching home plate off Sarah Price's single to right field.
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B6: With a 3-0 count, Denever Lauer walked to first base after ball four, advancing Delorenzo to second, Simmerson to third and Alanna Deal to home plate.
Game Two
Score: USC Upstate 6; Winthrop 0
Records: USC Upstate (33-3); Winthrop (11-23)
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
How It Happened
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B3: Celeste Delorenzo hit a single to left center as Sarah Price made a run home. Price reached home safely as Delorenzo was able to advance to second base on the Eagles' attempt to get Price out at home.
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B3: Delorenzo earned her own run in game two, rounding home plate off a single from Tiffany Domingue.
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B3: With the bases loaded, Denver Lauer stepped up to hit a single to left center, advancing Peyton Darnell to second while Summer Johnson and Domingue added two runs to the board, making the score 4-0.
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B4: Delorenzo grounded out to the Winthrop shortstop but not before Marisa Soterakis could touch home plate for the second time on the day.
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B5: Peyton Darnell put one final run on the board for Upstate with a home run over left field.
Notable
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Sarah Price recorded her 23st stolen base of the season in game one; this was her 89th career stolen base.
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Peyton Darnell recorded her 12th home run of the season, once again setting a new career/season high.
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Celeste Delorenzo has recorded at least one hit in each of the Spartans' last seven contests as well as recording six RBI in the last four games.
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Hannah Houge recorded her sixth double-digit strikeout game of the season.
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After today's double header, Houge has nine solo shutouts and one combined shutout; Alyssa Kelly has five solo shutouts and one combined shutout.
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