SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate softball emerged victorious to start its three-game series with Stetson as it finished Friday's doubleheader with a 4-1 win in game one and a 1-0 eighth inning win in game two.  

Upstate got started early in game one against the Hatters as second baseman Tiffany Domingue hit a leadoff solo homerun off the scoreboard in left field in the bottom of the first. The scoring continued for the Spartans in the bottom of the second as Casey Goguts added one to the board just before Domingue sent home Celeste Delorenzo and Alanna Deal with a double. Stetson was able to get one on the board in the top of the fifth but Upstate was able to close out the game with a 4-1 finish. Alyssa Kelly made her 11th start of the season and threw her ninth complete game as well as nearly hit her season-high with seven strikeouts.   

Game two proved to be a nail biter until the end as the Spartans and the Hatters went scoreless through seven complete innings. Maddie Drerup made her 10th start this season and threw a season high 8.0 innings to not only record her fourth complete game, but also earn her first solo shutout of the year while tallying five strikeouts. Upstate would secure the win in the bottom of the eighth inning as freshman, Amie Johnson, started as a pinch runner on second. Johnson was able to come home for the winning run as Denver Lauer hit a sacrificed bunt down the left field line.  
 
 
Game One             
Score: USC Upstate 4; Stetson 1 

Records: USC Upstate (19-2, 0-0 Big South); Stetson (15-9, 0-0 ASUN)  

Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C. 

How it Happened: 

B1: With a 1-2 count, Tiffany Domingue hit a leadoff solo homerun over the left field wall to get Upstate on the board. 

B2: Celeste Delorenzo hit a single up the middle to advance Casey Goguts home after she stole third, was advanced second on a sacrificed bunt by Cassie Norris and hit a single to get on first.  

B2: Domingue hit a double to right field but was caught trying to get to third, meanwhile Alanna Deal and Celeste Delorenzo came home to make the game 4-0. 

T5: A single from Clary was able to advance Gilman to give Stetson its lone run of the game.  

Game Two 

Score: USC Upstate 1; Stetson 0 *eight innings* 

Records: USC Upstate (20-2, 0-0 Big South); Stetson (15-10, 0-0 ASUN)  

Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C. 

How it Happened: 

B8: Pinch runner Amie Johnson started on second and advanced to third on a sacrificed bunt from Mady Lanoux and advanced home to win the game on another sacrificed bunt this time from Denver Lauer.  

                
Notable                

• Her homerun in game one was Tiffany Domingue's seventh homerun of the season. 

• Domingue currently leads the Spartans in homeruns this season.  

• This was Upstate's first time this season going into extra innings. 

• Her run in game two for the win was Amie Johnson's third run of the season.  

• Maddie Drerup set a new career record for innings pitched with the 8.0 innings she pitched in game two.  

• Upstate had a season high 24 putouts against Stetson in game two.  

Up Next for the Spartans 

Upstate will host one final game against the Hatters on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. which will be followed by an alumni reunion event.  

Alumni Reunion Weekend  

The reunion weekend will be highlighted by a special presentation following the Upstate vs. Stetson contest on Saturday, March 11.  First pitch is tentatively set for 1:00 p.m. The post game presentation is one former players of head coach Chris Hawkins will not want to miss. Following the presentation there will be dinner, music and an Alumni Game.  

Connect with the Spartans                  
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Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans                 
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans                 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans 

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