SB at BSC Tournament 2024
3
CSU CSU 23-26
6
Winner USC Upstate UPST 28-20
CSU CSU
23-26
3
Final
6
USC Upstate UPST
28-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CSU CSU 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 7 3
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 0 5 1 0 X 6 8 0

W: Drerup, Maddie (10-9) L: LAMB, N. (12-9) S: Maness, Sierra (1)

Game Recap: Softball |

No. 1 seed Upstate Downs No. 4 seed Charleston Southern in 6-3 Finish to Advance Through the Big South Softball Tournament

ROCK HILL, S.C. – USC Upstate softball emerged victorious in its first game of the Big South Softball Tournament after a 6-3 win over the No. 4 seed Charleston Southern Buccaneers on Thursday evening in Rock Hill, S.C.  

Both teams got off to a slow start as the Bucs and the Spartans went scoreless through the first two innings. Charleston Southern was able to get on the board first in the top of the third but were held to one-run. Upstate was quick to respond, loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth. Denver Lauer tied the game 1-1 after showing patience at the plate and being walked to first, thus advancing Abigail Pippen. Following Pippen's tying run, the Spartans gained momentum on offense and scored two runs off a Taliyah Thomas single combined with a Charleston Southern throwing error. Second Team All-Conference honoree, Celeste Delorenzo extended Upstate's lead with a double to right center that brought howe both Thomas and Lauer. Charleston Southern responded with two runs in the top of the fifth. The Spartans remained solid on offense as Thomas once again helped Polk get home in the bottom of the fifth to establish a three-run cushion.  

Maddie Drerup made her 18th start of the season in the circle and had three strikeouts in her 4.2 innings pitched. Sierra Maness made her 27th appearance of the season as she relieved Drerup in the top of the fifth. In her 2.1 innings pitched, Maness surrendered no runs and no hits to earn her first career save.  

Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 6; Charleston Southern 3 
Records: No. 1 seed USC Upstate (28-20; 13-5 Big South) vs. No. 4 seed Charleston Southern (23-26; 9-9 Big South)  
Location: Terry Field | Rock Hill, S.C.  
 
How It Happened 

  • T3: The Bucs got on the board first as a triple from Jones advanced Villaescusa home from first (1-0). 

  • B4: With the bases loaded, Denver Lauer was walked, advancing Abby Polk to second, Kailey Canupp to third, and Abigail Pippen home (1-0). 

  • B4: Taliyah Thomas was able to bring Canupp home with a single just over the short stop, before the Buccaneers were charged with a throwing error that scored Polk (3-1). 

  • B4: Celeste Delorenzo extended Upstate's lead to four runs after her double to right center brought home Thomas and Lauer (5-1). 

  • T5: Villaescuca scored for the second time off a single from Jones (5-2). 

  • T5: Lee scored the Bucs' third run of the game off Prince's single to center field (5-3). 

  • B5: Thomas once again helped Polk get home as her ground out to the second baseman provided enough time for Polk to safely advance (6-3).  

Notable 

  • Abby Polk had her ninth game of the season scoring multiple runs.  

  • Cassie Norris had her eighth multi-hit game of the season (2) while Abigail Pippen had her fourth (2). 

  • Norris is currently riding a four-game reached base streak while Celeste Delorenzo and Emily Stern are both on a three-game reached base streak.  

  • Taliyah Thomas had her seventh multi-RBI game of the season (2). 

  • Sierra Maness appearance in the fifth inning is the first post-season appearance of her career.  

Up Next for the Spartans  

With their win, the No. 1 seed Spartans will take on the No. 3 seed Winthrop Eagles at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. The winner will advance to the championship round starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday; the loser will fight to stay alive in the Friday 5:00 p.m. elimination game. For more information about the tournament and full tournament schedule, click here. 

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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