SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate softball continued its successful start to the 2023 season as it beat Bucknell 5-4 during the second day of the Upstate Classic. Bella Bertot gave Upstate the winning run with her first home run of the season while Maddie Dreup earned her second win of the season and Alyssa Kelly was credited with her first save of the year. 
  
The Spartans got the 2023 season started with a positive start as they went 2-0 on day one of the Upstate Classic after beating Bucknell (8-0) and Maine (10-5). Day two had two games on the agenda for Upstate but due to inclement weather the Spartans were cut down to one, a rematch with Bucknell. Upstate started the game with Aime Johnson's first career run to get on the board. Bucknell was able to tie the game in the top of the third but Upstate took the lead in the bottom of the inning as Tiffany Domingue earned her fifth run of the season. Sarah Price and Celeste Delorenzo extended the Spartans' lead to three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Bucknell tried to battle back, scoring another run in the top of the 5th but Bertot's home run kept the Bison at bay. The Bison made one final push for a comeback win, but a precise Alyssa Kelly put the game away and helped Upstate go 3-0.   
  
Game One                 
Score: USC Upstate 5; Bucknell 4  
Records: USC Upstate (3-0, 0-0 Big South); Bucknell (1-3, 0-0 Patriot League)            
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.                
                
How It Happened  

• B2: Alanna Deal hit a single to left center, allowing pinch runner Aime Johnson to score the first run of the day for Upstate. 

• T3: Zoie Smith hit a double and was called out at second base meanwhile Elena Horn was able to reach home and tie the game 1-1. 

• B3: Peyton Darnell reached first on an error from the Bucknell pitcher which gave time for Tiffany Domingue to get home and return the lead to Upstate.  

• B4: After hitting a single to reach first and advancing to second on a single from Delorenzo, Sarah Price scored on a single from Domingue (3-1).  

• B4: A fly ball from Darnell brought home Delorenzo who was waiting at second after a bunt single.  

• T5: Noelle Gardon kept the Bison in the game as she scored off a double through center field from Makenzie Hilling. 

• B5: With a 2-2 count, Bella Bertot came up big with a home run to right center to make the score 5-2. 

• T7: Noelle Gardon walked to get on base and advanced to second due to an error by the Upstate second baseman before scoring on a single from Knapp. 

• T7: Elena Horn came in for the final run of the day on a passed ball.  

Notable                

• Bella Bertot's first home run of the season was the sixth homerun of her career. 

• After today, Tiffany Domingue leads the Spartans in total bases (12), RBI (7), runs (5). 

• Alyssa Kelly earns the first save of the year, sits with a 0.00 ERA, and had seven strikeouts.  

• This is the third year in a row Upstate has gone undefeated in the Upstate Classic.  

• The Upstate Classic brought career first runs for Aime Johnson and Taliyah Thomas. 

Read more about how day one of the Upstate Classic went for the Spartans here. 

      
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Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans                 
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