SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With the Regular Season Championship and No. 1 seed in the bag, USC Upstate softball looks to finish the regular season strong, starting in Columbia on Wednesday night with the rescheduled mid-week clash against South Carolina.
This Week's Matchup
May 1, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (26-17; 12-3 Big South) vs. South Carolina (32-18; 8-13 SEC)
Carolina Softball Stadium | Columbia, S.C.
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (26-17; 12-3 Big South) vs. South Carolina (32-18; 8-13 SEC)
Series: Upstate trails the overall series 7-3
Last Meetings: Apr. 17, 2019 (UPST 2; USC 10); Apr. 25, 2018 (UPST 1; USC 7); Mar. 15, 2017 (UPST 5; USC 7); Apr. 13, 2016 (UPST 0; USC 1); Apr. 7, 2015 (UPST 0; USC 3)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: The Upstate Spartans continue to be led on offense by the Big South Preseason Player of the Year, Denver Lauer, with 34 runs, 48 hits, seven doubles, four homeruns, 28 RBI, 67 total bases and 40 stolen bases along with a .358 batting average, .500 slugging percentage, and .446 on base percentage. Sierra Maness remains a force to be reckoned with in the pitching circle as she threw the first perfect game of her career, Upstate's first perfect game since 2019. Maness leads the Spartans' pitching staff with a 2.32 ERA, 13 wins, 139.0 total innings pitched, and 113 strikeouts. The freshman collected her fourth Big South weekly honor of the season as she was named the conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday afternoon.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks most recently walked away with the SEC series win over No. 21 ranked Kentucky after a 5-2 on Friday and a 3-0 win on Sunday. Carlie Henderson sits atop the Gamecocks with 21 runs, 22 hits, two doubles, three RBI, 24 total bases, and one stolen base. Alana Vawter has been South Carolina's primary pitcher so far this season and sits with a 14-10 record, along with 17 game starts, 88 strikeouts, and a 1.99 ERA.
Up Next for the Spartans
Upstate will finish the regular season with one final Big South three-game series on Saturday and Sunday against the Winthrop Eagles in Rock Hill, S.C.
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
