Upstate Softball Celebrates BSC Tournament Victory 2024
1
Winthrop WINTHROP 24-28
5
Winner USC Upstate UPST 29-20
Winthrop WINTHROP
24-28
1
Final
5
USC Upstate UPST
29-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Winthrop WINTHROP 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 1
USC Upstate UPST 1 0 1 3 0 0 X 5 10 0

W: Kelly, Alyssa (6-2) L: BASINGER, R. (11-15)

Game Recap: Softball |

No. 1 seed Spartans Defeat No. 3 seed Eagles 5-1 to Advance to the Big South Softball Championship Saturday Afternoon

ROCK HILL, S.C. – USC Upstate softball advanced to the finals of the Big South Softball Championship for the second time in program history after defeating the No. 3 seed Winthrop Eagles 5-1 on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans enter Saturday's contest undefeated in tournament play with the opportunity to bring home USC Upstate's first ever Big South Conference Tournament Championship. 

Upstate got on the board early after loading the bases in the bottom of the first, with Alanna Deal up to bat. Unfortunately, Deal was hit by pitch for the 18th time this season, but in turn all Upstate runners were advanced, including Denver Lauer who was occupying third. The Spartans established a two-run lead in the bottom of the third via Emily Stern's 14th hit of the season which brought Celeste Delorenzo home from second. Winthrop scored its lone run of the game in the top of the fourth, bringing the game within one-run, after the Spartans tried to catch an Eagle stealing second base which allowed the runner on third to steal home. Upstate was quick to respond in the bottom of the fourth with Amie Johnson scoring her 18th run of the season. Deal extended Upstate's lead to four-runs in the bottom of the fourth with a two-shot homerun over left field.  

Alyssa Kelly made her seventh start of the season against Winthrop and walked away with her sixth win of the season. Kelly threw a season-high seven strikeouts in her third complete game of the season to help Upstate solidify its spot in the Big South Softball Championship game. Her appearance today marks the third time Kelly has played in a Big South Softball Tournament contest. 

Game Information 
Score: USC Upstate 5; Winthrop 1 
Records: No. 1 seed USC Upstate (29-20; 13-5 Big South) vs. No. 3 seed Winthrop (24-28; 9-9 Big South)  
Location: Terry Field | Rock Hill, S.C.  
 
How It Happened 

  • B1: With the bases loaded, Alanna Deal was hit by pitch which advanced Denver Lauer home from third (1-0). 

  • B3: Emily Stern sent a single through the right side to advance Celeste Delorenzo home from second (2-0). 

  • T4: Bassinger struck out swinging which led the Spartans to try to get the runner stealing second out. While trying to get the runner out, Temple stole home (2-1). 

  • B4: Taliyah Thomas was able to reach first off a fielder's choice while Lauer advanced to third and Amie Johnson advanced home (3-1). 

  • B4: Alanna Deal sent a deep fly ball over the left field wall and brought Thomas home with her for a four-run lead (5-1). 

Notable 

  • Prior to Deal's homerun in the fourth, Upstate had not hit a homerun since April 6, 2024 against Longwood.  

  • Her homerun in the fourth was Deal's second of the season.  

  • Celeste Delorenzo had her seventh multi-hit game of the season (2) while Abby Polk had her eighth (2). 

  • Deal had her eighth multi-RBI game of the season with the three runs she drove in today. 

  • Upstate's most recent Big South Softball Championship game was back in 2021 against Campbell (L, 5-2). 

Up Next for the Spartans  

Upstate looks to close out the Big South Softball Tournament Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Should the Spartans lose, the final game of the tournament would be Sunday at 10:00 a.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.  
 
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