SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate softball program began Big South play with two wins over the Highlanders last week and now sets its sights on the Bucs of Charleston Southern. Before heading to Charleston for the three-game series Friday and Saturday, the Spartans will take the quick trip to Wofford for a rematch against the Terriers on Wednesday night.
This Week's Matchup
March 20, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (11-13; 2-1 Big South) vs. Wofford (10-9; 0-0 SoCon)
Hope Field | Spartanburg, S.C.
March 24, 2024 | 2:00 P.M. & 4:00 P.M.
March 25, 2024 | 4:00 P.M.
USC Upstate (11-13; 2-1 Big South) vs. Charleston Southern (13-12; 0-0 Big South)
CSU Softball Complex | Charleston, S.C.
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (11-13; 2-1 Big South) vs. Wofford (10-9; 0-0 SoCon)
Series: Upstate leads the overall series 1-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 21, 2024 (UPST 2; WOF 0)
Records: USC Upstate (11-13; 2-1 Big South) vs. Charleston Southern (13-12; 0-0 Big South)
Series: Upstate leads the overall series 30-5
Last Meetings: May 12, 2023 (UPST 4; CSU 2)*; Mar. 19, 2023 (UPST 9; CSU 0); Mar. 18, 2023 (UPST 4; CSU 0); Mar. 18, 2023 (UPST 3; CSU 2); May 12, 2022 (UPST 3; CSU 0)*
*Denotes Big South Tournament Game Meetings
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: The first Big South series of the season saw exceptional hitting from numerous Spartans including Taliyah Thomas who had three runs, three hits, five RBI, and two homeruns and Celeste Delorenzo who finished the week with a .571 batting average, .667 on base percentage, and a 1.143 slugging percentage after three runs, four hits, two RBI, and one homerun. Thomas leads Upstate's stats with nine runs, 16 hits, three doubles, three homeruns, 11 RBI, 28 total bases, and six stolen bases. She sits with a .302 batting average, .528 slugging percentage, and .362 on base percentage. Freshman pitcher Sierra Maness claimed both of Upstate's wins against Radford along with her second Big South weekly honor after six strikeouts across 12.0 innings pitched and a 1.17 ERA.
Wofford: The Terriers most recently dropped their three-game series against the Bucs of Charleston Southern after taking game one 4-3 in extra innings and dropping games two (4-3) and three (2-1) on Saturday. Desirae Devine helps lead Wofford's stats with 12 runs, 14 hits, two doubles, six RBI, 16 total bases, two sacrificed hits, and eight stolen bases. Devine holds a .264 batting average, .302 slugging percentage, and .391 on base percentage.
Charleston Southern: The Bucs have not yet begun Big South play and will take on the Spartans as their first conference match up. Charleston Southern will take on the Jackets of Georgia Tech Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. before welcoming Upstate to the CSU Softball Complex. Madelyne Lee leads the Bucs with 10 runs, 27 hits, six doubles, nine RBI, 33 total bases, and six stolen bases. Lee sits with a .365 batting average, .446 slugging percentage, and a .422 on base percentage.
Up Next for the Spartans
Upstate will return home from the South Carolina coast and host Furman in a mid-week doubleheader with a first pitch set for 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
