SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartans handled business, getting consecutive shutouts in their double-header on Saturday afternoon and capping off their home games for the season with a final Big South sweep.
Game one of the double-header started with Celeste Delorenzo stealing home to get Upstate on the board while Hampton was just getting into the tempo of the game. The game went scoreless for the next two innings until Alexa Sanchez hit a single that would give pinch runner Caroline Jacquay enough time to reach home plate regardless of the Pirate's attempt to tag her out. Alyssa Kelly pitched 7.0 innings and had seven strikeouts as well as pitched her 16th complete game. Kelly earned not only her 16th win but her seventh solo shutout of the season.
The final game of the series followed the same narrative as Sarah Price gave Upstate a one-run lead in the bottom of the first. Price went on to hit a single in the bottom of the fourth that brought home Madison Lanoux and Alanna Deal to make the game 3-0 in favor of the Spartans. Jacquay earned her second run of the day as she scored the final run of the game off a Casey Goguts single. Hannah Houge pitched 7.0 innings and had 11 strikeouts. Houge earned her 26th win and 15th shutout of the season with her 25th complete game.
Game Two
Score: USC Upstate 2; Hampton 0
Records: USC Upstate (44-7, 18-5 Big South); Hampton (19-32, 7-16 Big South)
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
How It Happened
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B1: With the Pirate's catcher taking her time to return the ball to the pitcher, Summer Johnson took off from first to steal second. While Hampton attempted to catch Johnson stealing, Celeste Delorenzo took off from third to steal home.
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B4: Alexa Sanchez hit a ball towards the Hampton shortstop, who threw the ball to home plate in an attempt to get Caroline Jacquay out but was unsuccessful.
Game Three
Score: USC Upstate 4; Hampton 0
Records: USC Upstate (45-7, 19-5 Big South); Hampton (19-33, 7-17 Big South)
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
How It Happened
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B1: Tiffany Domingue struck out, but advanced to off an error by the Hampton catcher, while Sarah Price scored.
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B2: Price hit a single to right field as Mady Lanoux and Alanna Deal put the wheels on and scored two runs for Upstate.
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B4: Casey Goguts sent a single to third base, giving Caroline Jacquay home for the second time that day.
Notable
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Hannah Houge threw double-digit strikeouts for the 10th time this season with the 11 she threw today in game two.
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Houge is now second in Upstate softball history with 15 solo shutouts and one combined shutout. She sits behind Morgan Childers (2010) with 16 solo and one combined.
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Celeste Delorenzo's steal of home was the first of her career.
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Sarah Price is now ranked second in Upstate softball history with 35 stolen bases this season. She sits just under Ansley Gilstrap (2018) who had 42 stolen bases.
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After today, Caroline Jacquay, Tiffany Domingue, and Peyton Darnell all have 17 multi-hit games on the season.
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