SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate softball swept its first Big South opponent of the season after a back-to-back wins on Saturday against Charleston Southern and a final win on Sunday in the form of a 9-0 fifth inning victory. Upstate is the first team in the Big South to sweep a conference opponent so far this season.  

The Spartans got the action started early as they scored three runs in the first inning to set the tone of the final game of the series. Casey Goguts' hit as well as an error by the Buc's starting pitcher helped Denver Lauer come home for Upstate's first run of the day. Designated player, Peyton Darnell hit a sacrificed fly out to right field which advanced Goguts to third while sending Domingue running home as well. Goguts finished the Spartans' scoring in the first as she tallied the third run of the inning off of Alanna Deal's sacrificed bunt. Upstate continued its offensive run in the bottom of the second, posting another three runs to extend its lead to six runs. After her run in the first, Lauer started the second inning with a single to left field that advanced Sarah Price to second and brought home Liza Simmerson. Domingue sent Price home shortly after with a double to right center. Lauer capped the Spartans scoring run in the second inning as she scored off Gogut's ground out. Upstate's final few runs came in the bottom of the third via runs from Alanna Deal, Liza Simmerson, and Mady Lanoux. 

The Bucs were held scoreless through the five innings to give Upstate its 10th shutout of the season. Alyssa Kelly made her 15th start of the season in the circle for Upstate and pitched 5.0 innings. Kelly recorded five strikeouts and threw 59 pitches to help the Spartans earn their first Big South series sweep of the year. Kelly finished the weekend with a season total of 82 strikeouts and a 0.68 ERA.  
 
Game Three            
Score: USC Upstate 9; Charleston Southern 0 

Records: USC Upstate (25-3, 3-0 Big South); Charleston Southern (9-16, 0-3 Big south)  

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

How it Happened: 

B1: Goguts singled and advanced to second on an error by the Bucs pitcher. The error also allowed Domingue to advance to third and Lauer to score.  

B1: Darnell hit a sacrificed fly out to right field which allowed Goguts to reach third and Domingue to get home.  

B1: Deal grounded out to the pitcher via sacrificed but while Goguts safely made it home. 

B2: Lauer sent a single to left field to advance Price to second and send Simmerson home. 

B2: Domingue stepped up to send a double to right center that advanced Lauer to third while Price was able to reach home safely.  

B2: Goguts grounded out to the second baseman as Domingue ran to third and Lauer scored.  

B3: Price was out on a sacrificed fly to center field that advanced Lanoux to third and advanced Deal home.  

B3: Lauer sent the final runs of the day home with a single to right center that advanced Simmerson and Lanoux. 

                
Notable                

• The Spartans tied their season high for RBI with nine against CSU. The original season high was set against Maine (2/10/23). 

• Casey Goguts is riding a six-game hitting and reached base streak.  

• Alyssa Kelly has now surpassed 100 innings pitched on the season (103.0). 

• Upstate is now riding a five-game winning streak.  

• Upstate finishes the week as the only team to sweep the series (Campbell vs. Winthrop, 2-1) 

Missed the first two games of the series? Check out how the Spartans did here.  

Up Next for the Spartans 

Next week, the Spartans will continue on with conference play and head to Buies Creek to take on Campbell Saturday and Sunday.  

      
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