WEEKEND MATCH UP
May 5, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
May 6, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. *SENIOR DAY*
USC Upstate (34-15, 10-8 Big South) vs. Presbyterian (25-19, 6-11 Big South)
Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
Live Stats: Upstate vs. Presbyterian
Watch: Game One | Game Two | Game Three
Overview:
USC Upstate took last week to handle its exams and is back to business this week to host the final series of the regular season against the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College. Upstate's last time out brought a series sweep over the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb. After three wins in the circle for Maddie Drerup and a combined nine homeruns, the Spartans sit with a 10-7 Big South record going into the final series.
Presbyterian most recently dropped the three-game series 2-1 against Gardner-Webb. Saturday's double-header started with a 4-3 win but finished with a 5-1 loss for the Blue Hose. Sunday's final game of the series brought one more loss to Presbyterian (6-2) to leave the Blue Hose with a 6-11 Big South record. Upstate leads the overall series 14-1 with the Blue Hose first win being last season in game three of the series. The Spartans sit with a 12-0 record at home while averaging 6.8 runs per game with 102 total runs scored.
Players to Watch:
USC Upstate: Maddie Drerup collected her second Big South honor as she was named the Freshman of the Week (Apr. 24th) after collecting three wins over Gardner-Webb. Peyton Darnell had a stellar performance against the Runnin' Bulldogs with three homeruns, five runs, six hits, and six RBI. Casey Goguts also had an impressive showing against Gardner-Webb with one stolen base, two homeruns, five hits, five RBI, and six runs.
Upstate leads the Big South in stats overall with a .301 batting average, 1.96 ERA, and a .970 fielding percentage. As far as hitting goes, Casey Goguts sits second in the conference (.396), while Peyton Darnell is ninth (.333), Summer Johnson is 11th (.331), Denver Lauer is 12th (.331), and Tiffany Domingue sits just shy of the top 20 in 22nd (.323). Alyssa Kelly leads the league in pitching with a 1.81 ERA while Maddie Drerup is third with a 1.94 ERA. Goguts leads the conference in slugging percentage (.784) and on base + slugging percentage (1.205) while being second for homeruns (13). Lauer leads the conference with an astounding 35 stolen bases.
Nationally, Upstate is ranked top 15 in two categories: fourth for stolen bases per game (2.65) and 14th for ERA (1.96). The Spartans are also ranked 33rd for slugging percentage (.481), 37th for win/loss percentage (.694), tied for 44th for triples per game (.27), tied for 45th for homeruns per game (0.94), and 46th for batting average (.301).
Presbyterian: The Blue Hose dropped the series with Gardner-Webb as they finished with a 4-3 win which was accompanied by a 5-1 and a 6-2 loss. Morgan Hess helped carry the load for the Blue Hose with one homerun, one RBI, two runs, and three hits. Lath Freeman and Rebecca Clark also notched two RBI each. Jenna Greene left the circle with Presbyterians' one win of the series after 7.0 innings pitched and two strikeouts. Hess helps lead the Blue Hose offense with 23 runs, 33 hits, 13 homeruns, 29 RBI, and 75 total bases. Greene leads Presbyterian's pitching staff with a 2.40 ERA, 125.2 innings pitched, and 138 strikeouts.
Big South Standings:
Campbell (35-13, 14-3)
Longwood (27-17, 13-4)
USC Upstate (34-15, 10-8)
Charleston Southern (19-25, 8-9)
Winthrop (26-21, 8-10)
Gardner-Webb (18-32, 7-11)
Presbyterian (25-19, 6-11)
Radford (15-32, 4-14)
UP NEXT FOR THE SPARTANS
Following the completion of the regular season, the Spartans will prepare for the 2023 Big South Softball Championship set for May 11th-13th in Radford, Va.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
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