CLINTON, S.C. - Despite a seven-inning battle with the Blue Hose, the Spartans came up one game short of a final regular season series sweep. Upstate fell 6-4 on Saturday afternoon in Clinton after winning the double-header on Friday to clinch the Big South Regular Season Championship.  

Presbyterian took an early lead, getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Upstate was quick to rebound, posting three runs in the top of the third courtesy of Marisa Soterakis, Tiffany Domingue, and Celeste Delorenzo. The Blue Hose responded with a three-run homer to left center to regain the lead. In the top of the fifth, Soterakis would once again reach home plate with Delorenzo shortly behind her. Delorenzo would dive over PC's catcher in hopes of returning the lead to the Spartans, but would land just short of home plate and give PC the third out of the inning. Presbyterian struck for one more run in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. Although the Spartans pushed until the end, the final result fell in favor of the home team. Alyssa Kelly started in the circle for Upstate where she had one strikeout in 3.0 innings. Kelly was relieved by Hannah Houge to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Houge pitched the remaining 3.0 innings and had five strikeouts but unfortunately took her sixth loss of the season.  

Game Three                     
Score: USC Upstate 4; Presbyterian 6     
Records: USC Upstate (47-8, 21-6 Big South); Presbyterian (34-13, 19-8 Big South)                   
Location: PC Softball Complex | Clinton, S.C.     

How it Happened: 

• B1: Jillian Hewes hit a double to center field advancing Lath Freeman to third and Jaiden Tweed to home plate to put PC on the board. 

• T3: With a double to left field from Celeste Delorenzo, Upstate tied the game at 1-1 as Marisa Soterakis reached home plate.  

• T3: Tiffany Domingue hit a single to right field and advanced to second as PC tried to get Delorenzo out at home but was unsuccessful and gave Upstate the 2-1 lead.  

• T3: Summer Johnson hit a single to the pitcher and then advanced to second due to an error by the PC pitcher while Domingue came home to make the game 3-1. 

• B3: Jillian Hewes hit a home run to left center bringing Lath Freeman and Kaitlyn Tucker home and giving PC the lead (4-3).  

• T5: Domingue grounded out to the first baseman while Soterakis gave Upstate the run to tie the game (4-4) and Delorenzo was called out at home plate.  

• B5: Morgan Hess hit a home run over left field to give PC the lead (5-4). 

• B6: Jaiden Tweed hit a home run over left field to score the last run of the game (6-4).  

Notable    

• Marisa Soterakis had a season high two hits on the day.  

• Today's loss was the first time in the all-time series that USC Upstate lost to Presbyterian 

• With three hits today, Summer Johnson tied Tiffany Domingue with 18 multi-hit games this season. 

• Johnson extended her reached base streak and her hitting streak to seven straight games. 

UP NEXT 

USC Upstate will prepare to head to the Big South Conference Tournament where they will be the No. 1 seed. The Tournament will be May 11-14th in Farmville, Va. More details to come Tuesday, May 10th. 

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