SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With its second straight Big South series sweep and 10 conference wins in the bag, USC Upstate softball prepares for two massive matchups this week, starting with one game against No. 8 Georgia on Wednesday night and finishing the final home Big South series of the season against Gardner-Webb.
This Week's Matchup
April 17, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (22-15; 10-2 Big South) vs. No. 8 Georgia (33-10; 8-7 SEC)
Turner Softball Stadium | Athens, Ga.
April 19, 2024 | 4:00 p.m.
April 20, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
vs. Gardner-Webb University (27-16; 5-7 Big South)
Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (22-15; 10-2 Big South) vs. No. 8 Georgia (33-10; 8-7 SEC)
Series: Upstate trails the overall series 7-2
Last Meetings: Apr. 19, 2023 (UPST 0; UGA 6); Apr. 20, 2022 (UPST 3; UGA 5); Apr. 14, 2021 (UPST 1; UGA 4); Apr. 18, 2018 (UPST 0; UGA 10); Apr. 15, 2015 (UPST 4; UGA 3)
Records: vs. vs. Gardner-Webb University (27-16; 5-7 Big South)
Series: Upstate leads the overall series 32-2
Last Meetings: Apr. 22, 2023 (UPST 12; GWU 3); Apr. 21, 2023 (UPST 7; GWU 6); Apr. 21, 2023 (UPST 10; GWU 2); Apr. 23, 2022 (UPST 7; GWU 0); Apr. 23, 2022 (UPST 4; GWU 5); Apr. 22, 2022 (UPST 4; GWU 12)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: USC Upstate is coming off a solid week of softball after going 4-0 with one win over Western Carolina and a three-game series sweep against Presbyterian. Senior Cassie Norris had an exceptional week as she finished with a combined four runs, seven hits, six RBI, three doubles, one stolen base, and 34 putouts along with a .583 batting average, .583 on base percentage, and .833 slugging percentage. Sierra Maness continues to lead the Spartans pitching staff after back-to-back strong performances last week to extend her win streak to eight games. Maness holds a 2.18 ERA with a 12-6 record and 103 strikeouts after throwing 14 complete games and a total 122.0 innings pitched. Denver Lauer continues to lead Upstate's offense with 26 runs, 39 hits, six doubles, four homeruns, 26 RBI, 57 total bases, and 31 stolen bases along with a .333 batting average, .487 slugging percentage, and .419 on base percentage.
No. 8 Georgia: Ranked Georgia enters the contest with a 33-10 overall record after dropping the final game of the SEC series against Kentucky 6-2. Jayda Kearney leads the Dogs' offense with 29 runs, 48 hits, four doubles, one triple, 15 homeruns, 36 RBI, and 99 total bases along with a .366 batting average, .756 slugging percentage, and .458 on base percentage. Madison Kerpics and Lilli Backes have split majority of the time in the pitching circle for Georgia. Backes leads the pitchers with a 2.33 ERA, 12 wins, six complete games, 102.1 innings pitched, and 90 strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb: Big South opponent Gardner-Webb will take on the Catamounts of Western Carolina in a doubleheader on Tuesday before taking on the Spartans at the end of the week. Most recently in conference play, the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to take the series against Radford with back-to-back wins on Saturday (9-7; 9-1). Annicka McLaughlin leads Gardner-Webb's stats with 21 runs, 37 hits, one double, 11 RBI, 38 total base, and four stolen bases along with a .327 batting average, .336 slugging percentage, and .392 on base percentage. Andrea Lyon and Elle Doolittle have shared the majority of starts this season with 15 game starts each. Lyon leads the pitching staff with a 2.32 ERA, 108.2 innings pitched, 99 strikeouts, and a .244 opponent batting average.
Up Next for the Spartans
Upstate will take a break from Big South play to host South Carolina State at home in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon before taking the rest of the week off and preparing for No. 25 South Carolina Wednesday May 1.
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.
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