ROCK HILL, S.C. – USC Upstate softball began its final Big South series of the regular season splitting Friday's doubleheader against Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C.
The Spartans got off to a rough start on Friday afternoon as they dropped game one to the Eagles after three scoreless innings. Winthrop scored one run in the bottom of the fourth before the Spartans were able to close out the inning. The hosting Eagles extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth with as one run came home off an error before a homerun over left center made it a five-run game. Sierra Maness made her 23rd start of the season in the circle and threw six strikeouts in her 17th complete game of the season. Taliyah Thomas, Alanna Deal, and Abigail Pippen recorded one run each to help Upstate get on base and compete with the Winthrop Eagles.
After spending a few hours on a rain delay, Upstate and Winthrop began game two at 8:00 p.m. after an original 4:00 p.m. first pitch. Refusing to be swept, the Spartans got on the board quickly in game two, thanks to runs from Delorenzo and Deal. The Eagles rallied back in the bottom of the third with a homerun over right field that brought home two runners. Upstate tied the game at three apiece in the top of the fourth as Taliyah Thomas; single scored Emily Stern, just before taking a two run-lead in the top of the fifth due to an Eagle error. The two-run lead was short lived after back-to-back singles by the Eagles tied the game back up going into the sixth inning. Upstate's massive sixth inning push began with Delorenzo being walked with the bases loaded to reclaim the lead. Pippen's third hit of the day came in the form of a single to center field that helped bring home both Taliyah Thomas and Denver Lauer. Cassie Norris recorded her lone hit of the day in the top of the sixth via a single to left field that advanced Pippen and Delorenzo home to establish a late five-run lead. The Eagles scored one final run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as the Spartans finished strong to walk away with a 10-6 win.
Alyssa Kelly made her sixth start of the season in the circle in game two. Kelly had four strikeouts against 23 batters faced in her 4.1 innings pitched. Maddie Drerup made her 21st appearance of the season as she relieved Kelly in the fifth inning and had five strikeouts in her 2.2 innings pitched. Her five strikeouts were enough to help the Spartans advance to 13-4 in conference play as well as advance her own record to 9-8.
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 0; Winthrop 5
Records: USC Upstate (26-19; 12-4 Big South) vs. Winthrop (21-26; 7-8 Big South)
Location: Terry Field | Rock Hill, S.C.
How It Happened
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B4: A single from Powell scored Rivas, getting the Eagles on the board first in game one (1-0).
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B5: An Upstate error allowed Vanhouse to reach first safely, before advancing to second while Lee came home for Winthrop's second run (2-0).
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B5: With two runners on, Jackson hit a homerun over left center to extend Winthrop's lead (5-0).
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 10; Winthrop 6
Records: USC Upstate (27-19; 13-4 Big South) vs. Winthrop (21-27; 7-9 Big South)
Location: Terry Field | Rock Hill, S.C.
How It Happened
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T1: Abigail Pippen helped get the Spartans their first run of the day as her single up the right field line advanced Delorenzo home from second.
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T1: Emily Stern followed close behind Pippen as her single to first scored Alanna Deal to give Upstate an early lead (2-0).
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B3: With two on base, the Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the third with a homerun over right field (3-2).
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T4: Taliyah Thomas tied the game with her single to second base that advanced Stern home from third (3-3).
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T5: Stern continued to keep the Spartans' offense going as she reached first off a Winthrop error while both Alanna Deal and Abigail Pippen scored to take the lead (5-2).
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B5: With two runners on base, Powell hit a single up the middle to score Jackson to bring the game within two runs (5-3).
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B5: Basinger tied the game for the Eagles after her single to left center advanced Temple and Wood (5-5).
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T6: With the bases loaded, Celeste Delorenzo was walked to first to take the lead (6-5).
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T6: Abigail Pippen extended Upstate's lead with a single to center field that scored Denver Lauer and Taliyah Thomas (7-5).
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T6: Cassie Norris sent the last runs of the inning home (Pippen and Delorenzo) and managed to reach third single to left field (10-5).
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B7: Roberson scored the final run of the game, coming home from second off Lee's single to right field (10-6).
Notable
Up Next for the Spartans
Upstate will finish the final game of the series against Winthrop before preparing for the Big South Softball Tournament where they will enter as the No. 1 seed and face off against the No. 4 seed on Thursday, May 9, at 4:00 p.m. in Rock Hill, S.C. For more information about the Big South Softball Tournament, 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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