Cassie Norris batting against Wofford
Cassie Norris batting against Wofford
5
Winner USC Upstate UPST 14-14
1
Charleston Southern CSU 14-15
Winner
USC Upstate UPST
14-14
5
Final
1
Charleston Southern CSU
14-15
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 5 8 0
Charleston Southern CSU 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 1

W: Drerup, Maddie (5-6) L: LAMB, Nealy (7-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

Spartans Secure Second Big South Series Win After 5-1 Finish in Final Game Against Charleston Southern

CHARLESTON, S.C. – USC Upstate softball secured its second Big South series win after defeating the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern in a 5-1 fashion on Monday afternoon.  

Upstate got things started in the top of the third inning after both teams went scoreless through the first two innings. Abby Polk got things started for the Spartans as she hit a single to the shortstop to get on base and stole second to advance into scoring position. On the following play, Alanna Deal sent Polk home with a double to left center. Polk remained hot in the top of the fourth as she hit Upstate's first triple of the season to the right field wall, giving both Denver Lauer and pinch runner Kailey Canupp enough time to cross home plate. Right fielder Lex Difato brought Polk home shortly after as she sent a single to left field to give Upstate a four-run lead. The Buccaneers scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Schoeneweis hit a sacrificed fly to center field to score Lee. Upstate scored its final run of the game in the top of the sixth as pinch hitter Emily Stern sent one deep into left field, looking to advance Celeste Delorenzo to second, Alanna Deal to third, and Difato back home. All runners advanced as Charleston Southern's left fielder was charged with an error on the long throw, which allowed Difato to score the final run for Upstate. Maddie Drerup made her 10th start of the season on Monday and had four strikeouts across 7.0 innings pitched with 98 total pitches thrown. Drerup caught three Bucs looking and secured her fourth and final strikeout of the game swinging in the bottom of the seventh.    

Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 5; Charleston Southern 1 
Records: Records: USC Upstate (14-14; 4-2 Big South) vs. Charleston Southern (14-15; 1-2 Big South)    
Location: CSU Softball Complex | Charleston, S.C. 
 
How It Happened 

  • T3: Upstate scored the first run of the game as Abby Polk was sent running home off Alanna Deal's double to left field, after Polk singled to the short stop and stole second. 

  •  T4: With two outs, Abby Polk sent one to the wall and safely reached third while Denver Lauer and pinch runner Kailey Canupp both crossed the plate (3-0). 

  • T4: Lex Difato sent Polk running home with a single to left field to cap Upstate's fourth inning scoring (4-0). 

  • B4: Schoeneweis helped the Bucs get on the board in the bottom of the fourth as her sacrificed fly to Denver Lauer gave Lee time to safely reach home. 

  • T6: Difato scored her first run of the day after CSU's catcher was charged with an error, giving Difato enough time to get home from third. 
     

Notable 

  • Upstate's most never dropped a series to Charleston Southern and has only lost to the Bucs three times during conference play.  

  • Abby Polk had her fifth multi-hit game of the season, her fourth multi-RBI game and her seventh multi-run game of the season.  

  • Polk had an exception game with two runs, two hits, and two RBI, which she hasn't done since Feb. 17, 2024 against Mount St. Mary's (two runs, two hits, two RBI).  

  • Denver Lauer had her fifth multi-hit game of the season (2).

Up Next for the Spartans   
The Spartans will return home to Cyrill Stadium to host the Paladins of Furman University in a mid-week double-header Mar. 27 starting at 3:00 p.m.   
 
Tickets on Sale for Sparty's Ball – Saturday, May 18  
Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund. The UAF impacts current and future generations of Spartans, developing champions on the field, building scholars in the classroom, and preparing leaders for life. Presented by the Sports Medicine Institute, a division of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Sparty's Ball features live and silent auction items, delicious food from Cribbs Catering, beverages, and live entertainment from Under the Sun, and held at a new location, Indigo Hall in downtown Spartanburg. Come dressed in your Spartan best—cocktail attire is required. For details and tickets, log onto www.upstatespartans.com/spartysball.  
 
Connect with the Spartans      
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics      
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans      
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans      
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans   

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