Cassie Norris vs. Drexel 2023
Ryan Frye
2
Western Carolina WCU 3-7
6
Winner USC Upstate UPST 14-0
Western Carolina WCU
3-7
2
Final
6
USC Upstate UPST
14-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Carolina WCU 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 8 0
USC Upstate UPST 0 1 1 0 0 4 X 6 7 0

W: Kelly, Alyssa (9-0) L: Tessa Juett (1-3)

1
Western Carolina WCU 3-8
5
Winner USC Upstate UPST 15-0
Western Carolina WCU
3-8
1
Final
5
USC Upstate UPST
15-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Carolina WCU 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 3
USC Upstate UPST 1 2 0 1 0 1 X 5 9 1

W: Drerup, Maddie (5-0) L: Taylor Norton (2-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Complete Games From Alyssa Kelly and Maddie Drerup; Home Runs from Cassie Norris, Tiffany Domingue, and Liza Simmerson Lead Softball to Doubleheader Sweep of Western Carolina

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Entering the week as the lone undefeated team in the country, USC Upstate softball continued its claim to that title as the Spartans took both ends of their midweek doubleheader with Western Carolina, winning by scores of 6-2 and 5-1.
 
In game one, Upstate made the most of its seven hits, including the two hits as part of a 2-for-3 day by junior first baseman Cassie Norris that saw her drive home a career-high five runs. Her biggest hit of the day came with the Spartans leading 2-1 in the sixth as she hit a grand slam to right to extend the advantage. Her five RBI backed a complete game from junior pitcher Alyssa Kelly who tied a season-high with eight strikeouts.
 
Game two saw freshman pitcher Maddie Drerup secure her first career complete game as she surrendered just two hits and one run over 7.0 innings. She finished her afternoon striking out five without issuing a walk, seeing just three baserunners against her. A pair of home runs paced the team's offense in the game with senior second baseman Tiffany Domingue hitting a solo shot in the first and sophomore outfielder Liza Simmerson picking up her first career hit with a solo home run to center in the sixth.
 
Game One
Score: USC Upstate 6; Western Carolina 2
Records: USC Upstate (14-0; 0-0 Big South); Western Carolina (3-7; 0-0 SOCON)
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Scoring Summary
  • B2: Seeing Denver Lauer lead off the inning with a double to left-center, Cassie Norris picked up her first RBI of the day as she ripped a single through the right side, allowing Lauer to score from second.
  • B3: Reaching base with an infield single and stealing her way into scoring position, Tiffany Domingue came into score on a single back through the middle from Peyton Darnell.
  • T5: Loading the bases with three consecutive singles to open the inning, Western Carolina pulled within a run as Morgan Maddaluna ground out to second a push across the run.
  • B6: Stepping to the plate with ducks on the pond and one out, Norris added to her RBI total as she launched the ball to deep rightfield, clearing the bases with a grand slam.
  • T7: The Catamounts plated the final run of the game as Bailey Huneycutt singled to left with Brooklyn Brewington scoring from second following her one-out double.
 
Game Two
Score: USC Upstate 5; Western Carolina 1
Records: USC Upstate (15-0; 0-0 Big South); Western Carolina (3-8; 0-0 SOCON)
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Scoring Summary
  • B1: Upstate wasted no time getting on the board as Domingue hit a line drive to left-center that kept travelling and left the yard to stake the Spartans to an early 1-0 advantage.
  • B2: After seeing the bases loaded with a pair of hits and an HBP to start the inning, Sarah Price singled back up the middle, deflecting off the pitcher and allowing Lauer to come home to score. Later in the inning, Darnell drove in a second run to extend the lead to 3-0.
  • B4: Entering the game as a pinch runner, Talia Thomas stole second and stole third and came into score as the throw to third found no one home and its way into leftfield as Thomas came across the plate.
  • T5: The Catamounts got a run back as Taylor Norton hit a solo homer to left, making it 4-1 in favor of the Spartans.
  • B6: Using a solo homer off its own, Upstate got the surrendered run back as Liza Simmerson collected her first career hit with a no-doubter to straight-away center.
 
Notable
  • Hitting her third career home run and her second long ball of the season with her first career grand slam, Cassie Norris drove home a career-best five RBI in game one versus Western Carolina. Her five RBI are the most in a game for a Spartan this season.
  • Stepping to the plate as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning in game two, Liza Simmerson picked up her first career hit with a home run to center. Her first career homer comes in her second at-bat of the season and the fourth at-bat of her career.
  • Taking to the circle in game two, Maddie Drerup spun her first career complete game of the season in Upstate's 5-1 win. She allowed just two hits, one run, and three baserunners in the game while striking out five.
  • With its two wins, Upstate improves to 15-0 on the season and is the lone undefeated team remaining in NCAA Division I this season. The start marks the best for the Spartans since opening 18-0 during the 2018 season.
 
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