Homerun celebration with Alanna Deal, Carson Shaw, and Sophia Kardatzke
Natalia Moll
4
Eastern Kentucky EKU 6-3
5
Winner USC Upstate UPST 9-1
Eastern Kentucky EKU
6-3
4
Final
5
USC Upstate UPST
9-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Eastern Kentucky EKU 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 4 9 0
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 5 11 0

W: Drerup, Maddie (5-0) L: Maddi Rutan (2-2)

0
South Carolina State SCSU25 4-5
10
Winner USC Upstate UPST 10-1
South Carolina State SCSU25
4-5
0
Final
10
USC Upstate UPST
10-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
South Carolina State SCSU25 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
USC Upstate UPST 0 3 4 3 X 10 9 1

W: Maness, Sierra (3-0) L: Ciara Farrar (1-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Upstate Softball sweeps Day One over Eastern Kentucky and SC State in heroic fashion

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Returning to the field for more action with their third weekend of hosting, Upstate Softball welcomed Eastern Kentucky and South Carolina State for Day one of the Upstate Classic.  

The Spartans opened their first game of the day in a down to the wire battle with Eastern Kentucky with a fight to the finish. Through the first three innings, both teams started cold at bat with four hits combined. Eastern Kentucky picked up the action at the top of the fourth inning with an infield single and double getting two runners on base. The following batter hit into right field territory taking the attention away from a runner at third resulting in a sacrifice fly for the first run. The Colonials followed with retiring Upstate's batters in the bottom of the fourth with zero hits and no runners on base. The Spartans were able to come back together in the fifth inning with a two flyouts and a pop-up to set the stage for their next at bats. An infield single from Carson Shaw and Alanna Deal opened the inning with a chance of redemption. Amie Johnson's RBI single past the shortstop was enough to display the speed of Kailey Canupp to score Upstate's first run. With Eastern Kentucky holding a 2-1 lead, USC Upstate wiped the lead away with Sophia Kardatzke opening the bottom of the sixth with an infield single to right field followed by a stolen base. Carson Shaw's single to right center scored Upstate's following run with Kardatzke finishing at the plate before a tag. The anticipation built with the Spartans looking to take the lead but Eastern Kentucky halted the inning with a groundout. The seventh inning opened with an infield single and a walk from Eastern Kentucky getting two runners into scoring position. The green light for the Colonials with their next better displayed with the batter hitting past second base sending two runners' home to take a 4-2 lead. Maddie Drerup stayed in the fight in the circle with striking out the final batter in the inning to give the Spartans a chance at bat. Upstate started the bottom of the inning as good as it could have been pictured with leading off with Amie Johnson adding a single to left field. Georgia Preddy and Taliyah Thomas followed with back to back infield singles to load the bases. With no outs recorded, Denver Lauer sent the Spartans into victory with a three-RBI double down the left field line winning the game 5-4. 

Upstate's momentum into Game two against SC State began with the Spartans opening the gate in the bottom of the second inning with Carson Shaw singling up the middle. A walk and Abby Polk bunt would be enough to load the bases to begin the threat to score. Amie Johnson's groundout to third base took the attention away from Carson Shaw advancing her to home plate for the first run. Georgia Preddy added a two-run double down the left field line sending Abby Polk and Alanna Deal home for a 3-0 lead. In the circle, Sierra Maness began to find her stride striking the Bulldog batters and avoiding a run after two hits. The scoring began to pile up in the bottom of the third inning as Sophia Kardatzke's single past the shortstop scored two runs. Amie Johnson moved the score closer to a run rule with a two-RBI single past the second baseman increasing the lead to 7-0. The top of the fourth continued going Sierra Maness' way in the circle with striking out the first two batters and Maness throwing the groundout to first. The bottom of the inning opened with Denver Lauer getting on base with a walk and Abigail Pippen adding an infield single. Sophia Kardatzke followed with a three-run homer to left center increasing the lead to 10-0. The Spartans finished the game in five innings with Sierra Maness striking out the final two batters and the game ending with a chase down from second to first. 

Notable 

  • Upstate combined for 20 hits through both games while adding one homerun and three double. 

  • In the circle, The Spartans struck out 13 batters through two games between Maddie Drerup and Sierra Maness while each earning a win. 

  • The Spartans move to 10 wins on the season while adding 112 hits, 97 runs, and 90 RBIs through 11 games. 


Saturday's Schedule 

(!) February 22| North Carolina A&T vs. Colgate | 11:00 A.M. (Neutral Site) 

(!) February 22| North Carolina A&T vs. USC Upstate | 1:30 P.M. 

(!) February 22| Colgate vs. USC Upstate | 4:00 P.M. 


(!) Live stats Only        

LiveStats will be available for all games and a recap following the day's action can be found at upstatespartans.com.         



Up Next for the Spartans    

Following the Upstate Classic, the Spartans will travel to Greenville, South Carolina for an in-state midweek doubleheader at Furman University on Wednesday, February 26th with Game one scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch and Game two to follow at 6:00 p.m.  



Connect with the Spartans       
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics       
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans       
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YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans        

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