SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate softball split Saturday's Big South doubleheader against Gardner-Webb after finishing the originally scheduled Friday game in a close 4-3 loss and taking game two of the series with a 5-0 win.  

Game One of the series began on Friday afternoon and went well into the second inning before poor weather rolled through Spartanburg and brought the day to an end. Before the storm finished Friday's actives at Cyrill Stadium, Gardner-Webb was able to get three runs on the board to force the Spartans to trail early. The first game of the series resumed on Saturday afternoon with the Runnin' Bulldogs pushing their lead to four in the top of the fifth. Upstate was able to not only get on the board in the bottom of the fifth but brought the game within one run. Abby Polk scored Upstate's first run of the day as she safely crossed home plate thanks to Denver Lauer's single up the middle. Lauer came home shortly after with Amie Johnson running with her after Alanna Deal sent a single deep into center field. Despite the solid fifth inning effort, the Spartans came up just short with a 4-3 finish. Sierra Maness made her 21st game start of the season and had three strikeouts in her 15th complete game of the season.  

Game two proved to be a different story as the Spartans stacked runs in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings after both teams went scoreless through the first inning. Olivia Hall made her first start of the season as the designated player and came up big for the Spartans after scoring the first run of the game off a wild pitch. Denver Lauer scored her second run of the day in the bottom of the third as the Gardner-Webb pitching had a throwing error while trying to get out a thieving Alanna Deal. Abby Polk tallied her second run of the day in the fourth inning as Abigail Pippen hit a sacrificed fly to center field, extending Upstate's lead to three-runs while still keeping Gardner-Webb off the board. The Spartans secured their final runs of the day in the bottom of the fifth as Alanna Deal sent a double to center field to advance both Taliyah Thomas and Celeste Delorenzo home. Maddie Drerup made her 15th game start of the season and surrendered no runs in her ninth complete game of the season. As a team, Upstate secured its fifth shutout of the season and its first shutout against a Big South opponent this season.  

USC Upstate softball celebrated its four graduating seniors following the doubleheader with the Runnin' Bulldogs. Darbie Lisk is a four-year Spartan, who leaves Upstate after obtaining her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. Darbie had 21 game appearances and recorded 3 runs, 2 hits, one double, two total bases, and two RBI. During her four years at Upstate, Lisk was a member of the Psi Chi- Psychology Honors Society, Alpha Phi Sigma- Criminal Justice Honors Society. Cassie Norris is a four-year Spartan, who leaves Upstate after obtaining her Bachelor's degree in exercise science (pre-occupational therapy) along with a minor in psychology. Cassie had 107 game appearances, making 80 starts while recording 20 runs, 42 hits, eight doubles, seven homeruns, five stolen bases, 40 RBI, and 73 total bases. During her four years at Upstate, Cassie was a three-time president's list honoree, a five-time dean's list honoree, and was named to the Big South All-Academic Team in 2023 season. Alyssa Kelly is a three-year Spartan, who leaves Upstate after obtaining her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Alyssa had 77 game appearances, making 60 starts while recording 292 strikeouts across 377.1 total innings pitched, to finish with a 1.95 ERA and 39 wins. During her three years at Upstate, Alyssa spent her time between the classroom, Cyrill Stadium, and volunteering at meals on wheels. Kelly is a one-time Big South All-Conference second team honoree, a two-time NFCA Top performer, and a three-time Big South Pitcher of the week honoree. Celeste Delorenzo is a four-year Spartan, who leaves Upstate after obtaining her Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in criminal justice. Celeste had 194 game appearances, making 193 starts while recording 100 runs, 144 hits, 25 doubles, seven homeruns, 23 stolen bases, 74 RBI, and 196 total bases. During her four years at Upstate, Celeste was a three-time president's list honoree, one-time All-Conference Second Team honoree, one-time All-Tournament Team honoree, and earned two Big South weekly honors. 

Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 3; Gardner-Webb 4 
Records: USC Upstate (22-17; 10-3 Big South); Gardner-Webb University (30-16; 6-7 Big South)  
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.      
 
How It Happened 

• T1: Tineo got the Runnin' Bulldogs on the board in the top of the first as she came home off a single up the middle from Lyon (1-0). 

• T2: Tineo came in along with Pesqueria off Visintine's single to left field (3-0). 

• T5: Visintine scored the final run of the game for the Bulldogs as she came home off Christopher's sacrificed fly out to left field (4-0). 

• B5: The Spartans got in the board in the bottom of the fifth as Denver Lauer dinged a single up the middle to advance Amie Johnon and send Abby Polk running home (4-1). 

• B5: Johnson and Lauer helped cut the Runnin' Bulldogs lead down to one run after they came home off Alanna Deal's double to center field (4-3).  

Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 5; Gardner-Webb 0 
Records: USC Upstate (23-17; 11-3 Big South); Gardner-Webb University (30-17; 6-8 Big South)  
Location: Cyrill Softball Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.      
 
How It Happened 

• B2: Designated player Olivia Hall scored Upstate's first run of the game after she sprinted home off a Gardner-Webb wild pitch (1-0). 

• B3: As the Runnin' Bulldogs were charged with an error while trying to catch Alanna Deal stealing second, Denver Lauer safely reached home (2-0) 

• B4: Abby Polk extended Upstate's lead to three runs as she reached home off Abigail Pippen's sacrificed fly to center field (3-0).  

• B5: Deal secured the game two win for the Spartans' as her double scored Taliyah Thomas and Celeste Delorenzo (5-0). 

Notable 

• The game one loss to Gardner-Webb is the first loss Upstate has collected against the Runnin' Bulldogs at home.  

• Denver Lauer had back-to-back games with multiple hits, bringing her to nine multi-hit games this season (the most on the team).  

• Alanna Deal had back-to-back games with multiple RBI, bringing her to six multi-RBI games so far this season.  

• Celeste Delorenzo extends her reached base streak to 20, the longest streak of the season for any Spartan, while Abby Polk is currently on a five-game reached base streak. 

• Game two was Maddie Drerup's second shutout win of the season; her first was against Monmouth back in February. 

Up Next for the Spartans  

The Spartans will finish the three-game series against the Runnin' Bulldogs at Cyrill Stadium on Monday at 6:00 p.m. Upstate will have a short time to recoup as it is scheduled to host the Bulldogs of South Carolina State on Wednesday in a doubleheader.  

 
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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