RALEIGH, N.C. - The USC Upstate softball team squared off with power five competition for the second time this season but were unable to produce the same result as their bout with Kansas, as the Spartans fell 2-0 at NC State on Tuesday night. Upstate's overall record shifts to 28-13 while its Big South record remains 4-7.   

Alyssa Kelly made her 23rd start in the circle and held the Wolfpack scoreless through four full innings, until NC State's Hannah Goodwin made contact and sent a homerun into left field, bringing in Kaylee Lambrecht to take a two-run lead which would last through the end of the game. Celeste Delorenzo, Tiffany Domingue, Casey Goguts, Peyton Darnell, Denver Lauer, and Sarah Price were all able to produce contact, but were unable to find a run as five Spartans were left on base throughout the contest. Despite Kelly's record shifting to 17-7 due to the two-run loss, Kelly surpassed 150 innings pitched on the season (151.2) with the 6.0 she had today as well as brought her strikeout total this season to 117 with the seven she had today. 

Despite the Spartans leaving Raleigh with a loss, the Spartans were able to show strong potential to score by out hitting their ACC opponent. The last time the Spartans out-hit their opponent was during game two of the NC A&T midweek doubleheader where Upstate managed a five to three advantage at the plate to hold on to a 3-1 win. The team's total of six hits is their most since game two against Longwood, but the six separate Spartans to notch a hit is the most since seven did it in a game one's victory over the Lancers.  

Game One 

Score: USC Upstate 0 | NC State 2 

Records: USC Upstate (28-13, 4-7 Big South) vs. NC State (15-26, 5-10 ACC)  

Dail Softball Stadium | Raleigh, N.C. 

How it Happened 

T1: Casey Goguts earned the first hit of the game for either team, sending a single to third base. However, the innings ended as Sarah Price hit into a fielder's choice, forcing the third out.  

B1: With two outs and a loaded count, Alyssa Kelly struck out Kaitlyn Pavlick for her first strikeout of the day. She would finish the game with seven and has back-to-back games of at least seven K's 

T4: After reaching first thanks to a hit to center field, Denver Lauer stole second while Cassie Norris was at the plate. Lauer's successful steal is her 28th of the season and she is now 28/29 total (.965%) 

B5: After Hannah Goodwin's homerun into left field, Kelly and the Spartans were able to get out of the inning, limiting the damage to the two-run shot 

T7: a 1-2-3 inning ended the game for the Spartans.  

Notable: 

• Six Spartans recorded a hit on the day, the most since the Longwood series 

• Alyssa Kelly recorded seven strikeouts and has back-to-back games with at least that total. Her 99 pitches ended a streak of five straight 100+ pitch starts. 

• Denver Lauer stole a base to raise her team high total to 29. 

• For the first time since the 2009 season, the Spartans were shutout for the second game in a row  
   

Up Next for The Spartans 

An incredibly quick turnaround is in store for the Spartans as they host Winthrop tomorrow afternoon for a crucial Big South matchup as the team hits the final stretch of the season. 

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