Upstate Softball Predicted to run the table in the Big South as the #1 team in the Preseason Poll and Pitcher of the Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - With the 2025 Season ready to commence in two weeks, USC Upstate has been picked to run the table as the top team in the Big South after being picked first in the Preseason rankings for the second consecutive year. The Spartans will be a team to watch with being the number one team but also having been picked with the Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors. USC Upstate looks to go back-to-back as the Big South Champions and make a run deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Head Coach, Chris Hawkins high hopes for his team to work hard each day no matter of the circumstances and build chemistry has continued to be a big part of the team DNA each time the Spartans step on the field. Hawkins has expressed his excitement to be a top team saying, "It is always great to be picked high in our peers' eyes. We did a lot of great things last year. We won a lot of games last year by concentrating on winning, not stats." Hawkins continued to mention how his team focused on getting better saying, How many times we failed was not near as important as finding a way to win. Hopefully, we can concentrate on being better situational hitters this year and attack. I really enjoyed our team and chemistry. I look forward to going to battle with this group!"

The Spartans have been picked to finish first in the Big South for second consecutive season as USC Upstate was projected as a top team with Longwood in the 2024 season. Since joining the Big South Conference in 2019, USC Upstate has been looked at as a top team each year in the Preseason Polls. The Spartans enter the year with a Preseason Pitcher of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Upstate finished first in the Big South last year with a 30-23 overall record and a 13-5 conference record. Upstate added to the first-place finish by winning the Big South Conference Tournament Championship over Winthrop and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Preseason All-Conference: Sierra Maness

The Sophomore from Woodruff, South Carolina comes into the 2025 Season as a well-respected competitor in the Big South as she was named the Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year and to the Preseason All-Conference Team. During her freshman season, Maness was a three-time Big South Pitcher of the Week, a member of the Big South All-Freshman Team, and a member of the 2024 Big South All-Conference Second Team. Maness had the numbers to back up her stacked resume appearing in 30 games with a 13-11 record, 2.44 ERA, 19 Complete Games, 163.1 Total Innings Pitched, 124 Strikeouts, four shutouts, and one save. Going into her Sophomore season, Maness returns to the Spartans with the focus to help USC Upstate go for the repeat during Championship Season while also staying consistent in the circle. Head Coach, Chris Hawkins expressed how her presence in the circle is a key contributor to winning as he mentioned, "Every time she is in the circle, she gives us a good chance of winning. We just have to get hits behind her and solid defense. She has really improved this fall."

Big South Preseason All-Conference Team: Alanna Deal

The Senior Infielder from Whiteville, North Carolina continues to build her resume at USC Upstate with multiple honors as the 2024 Big South Second-Team All Conference player was named to the 2025 Preseason All-Conference Team. Deal had an impressive season in the 2024 campaign starting in all 53 games, 144 at bats with 35 hits on a .243 batting average, six doubles, and three home runs. In the field, Deal added 53 putouts on a .944 fielding percentage. Deal's contribution to the 2024 Conference Championship was felt as she hit two home runs through the tournament including one in the Championship game to help the Spartans see the Gold. Alanna Deal's impact is understood by Coach Hawkins as he added, "She is a very steady player for us and always rises to the opportunities she has. She carried us in the conference tournament last year."

Big South Preseason All-Conference Team: Taliyah Thomas

The Junior from Iron Station, North Carolina finds her way on the Big South Preseason All-Conference Team after a stellar year in 2024. Thomas made 47 starts, had 145 at-bats, 42 hits on a .290 batting average, three doubles, three home runs, 27 RBIs, and was 27-for-30 on stolen bases. Taliyah Thomas has high anticipation on building to what she has done already as her improvement from as a player and from a hitting perspective has made a jump. Head Coach, Chris Hawkins recognized the improvement mentioning, "She is a very solid player with Outstanding range. She is hitting the ball as well as I ever seen her do!"

Big South Preseason All-Conference Team: Denver Lauer

The Senior from Olney, Maryland comes into the 2025 Year with a stacked resume as you may know. Lauer adds a Big South Preseason All-Conference Team honor along with being a Two-Time Big South First Team All-Conference Player, Two-time Big South All Tournament Team Player, 2023 NFCA Top Performer, and the 2024 Big South Preseason Player of the Year. Lauer's historic career at USC Upstate continued to build in the 2024 campaign starting all 53 games, 165 at bats with 54 hits on a team leading .354 batting average, seven doubles and four home runs, 29 RBIs, 43 stolen bases, and was ranked top-five nationally for stolen bases per game and total stolen bases. Denver Lauer is full of personality off the field but when it is time to put a Spartan jersey on, she is locked in through every inning. Head Coach, Chris Hawkins knows what Denver Lauer brings to the table mentioning, "She is an extremely good athlete. I see her having a great Senior Season!"

Players Mentioned

Alanna Deal

Denver Lauer

Sierra Maness

Taliyah Thomas

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