TUSCALOOSA, ALA.– USC Upstate softball is in Tuscaloosa, Ala. to compete in its first NCAA Regional since 2017 after earning its first Big South Tournament Championship on Sunday. The Spartans will begin regionals against the hosting No. 14 ranked Crimson Tide of Alabama. Upstate returns to Alabama for the fourth time after making the trip in 2015, 2014, and 2013 for regional competition.
This Week's Matchup
May 17, 2024 | 4:30 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (30-21; 13-5 Big South) vs. No. 14 Alabama (33-17; 10-14 SEC)
Rhoads Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
TV: ESPN+
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (30-21; 13-5 Big South) vs. No. 14 Alabama (33-17; 10-14 SEC)
Series: Upstate trails the overall series 1-0
Last Meetings: May 17, 2014 (UPST 1; ALA 7)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Upstate's Big South Tournament win earned four Big South All-Tournament team honors; Denver Lauer, Cassie Norris, Alanna Deal, and Alyssa Kelly. Kelly earned the Big South Tournament MVP honor after she won two games in the tournament for Upstate and had a combined 11 strikeouts and surrendered only two runs. Lauer has led the Spartans' offense all season with a .335 batting average, 39 runs, 54 hits, seven doubles, four homeruns, 29 RBI, 73 total bases, and 43 stolen bases. Sierra Maness continues to lead the Spartans' pitching staff with a 2.33 ERA while Kelly also sits with a 2.66 ERA. Maness enters regionals with 13 wins, 18 complete games thrown, one save, 156.1 innings pitched, and 124 strikeouts.
Alabama: Alabama softball will host the regional after going 33-17 overall and 10-14 in conference play. The Alabama Crimson Tide earned its 25th-straight postseason bid and 19th-straight as a host, coming in as the No. 14 overall seed. Alabama most recently fell 3-2 to LSU in the opening round of the SEC Softball Tournament. Kenliegh Cahalan leads the Crimson Tide on offense with a .293 batting average, 21 runs, 46 hits, eight doubles, four triples, two homeruns, 24 RBI, three stolen bases, and 69 total bases. Alabama's pitching staff is led by Kayla Beaver with a 1.78 ERA, 16 wins, 13 complete games, 161.1 innings pitched, and 162 strikeouts.
Up Next for the Spartans
The winner of game one between USC Upstate and Alabama will play the winner between Clemson and Southeastern Louisiana on May 18 at 2:00 p.m. The losers will play each other May 18 at 4:30 p.m. 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.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
