SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate softball pauses Big South play for a mid-week clash against Western Carolina in Cullowhee before heading to Clinton for a three-game conference series matchup against Presbyterian on Friday and Saturday.
This Week's Matchup
April 10, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
USC Upstate (18-15; 7-2 Big South) vs. Western Carolina (12-20; 3-6 SoCon)
Catamount Softball Complex | Cullowhee, N.C.
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (18-15; 7-2 Big South) vs. Western Carolina (12-20; 3-6 SoCon)
Series: Upstate leads the overall series 28-3
Last Meetings: Mar 1, 2023 (UPST 5; WCU 1); Mar. 1, 2023 (UPST 6; WCU 2); Apr. 6, 2022 (UPST 9; WCU 1 [Six Inn.]); Apr. 9, 2022 (UPST 3; WCU 1); Apr. 20, 2021 (UPST 7; WCU 0); Apr. 20, 2021 (UPST 3; WCU 1)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Upstate continues to stay hot through the 2024 season as freshman Sierra Maness and senior Celeste Delorenzo earned Big South weekly honors for the Spartans for the fourth straight week. Maness leads the pitching staff with 18 game starts, 10 wins, 91 strikeouts, 112.0 innings pitched and a 2.25 ERA. Junior Denver Lauer leads the Spartans' offense with 23 runs, 33 hits, four doubles, four homeruns, 24 RBI, 49 total bases, and 28 stolen bases along with a .320 batting average, .476 slugging percentage and .408 on base percentage.
Western Carolina: The Catamounts most recently took their first SoCon series of the season after defeating ETSU 8-3 on Saturday and 3-0 on Sunday. Lily Bell leads Western Carolina on offense with 22 runs, 41 hits, one double, one triple, nine RBI, 44 total bases and 20 stolen bases as well as a .376 batting average, .404 slugging percentage, and .419 on base percentage. Tessa Juett leads the pitching staff with 14 game starts, nine wins, 94 strikeouts, 106.2 innings pitched, and a 3.41 ERA.
Up Next for the Spartans
The Spartans will finish their week in Clinton for a Big South series against Presbyterian with one game scheduled for Friday at 6:00 p.m. and a double-header Saturday starting at 1:00 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
