ROCK HILL, S.C. - After winning in a sweep on the road at Furman, Upstate Softball opened the weekend with Day One of the Coach Cooke Memorial Tournament with back-to-back games against the University of Charlotte and St. Bonaventure. Game one was a down to wire finish with Charlotte walking it off a two-run homer and the Spartans followed with outdueling the Bonnies in Game two for an 8-5 win.
Game One vs. Charlotte (7-6, Loss *Eight Innings*)
The action picked up in the top of the first with Denver Lauer adding the first hit to second base getting the rally going. Sophia Kardatzke's single to right center was enough to put the 49ers in a bind scoring a run with Denver Lauer taking advantage of the fielding error in right field. With Carson Shaw being walked next at bat to get two runners on, Alanna Deal doubled to left center advancing Shaw to third and sending Kardatzke home for an early 2-0 lead. Charlotte looked to respond with getting two runners on with consecutive errors but the next at bat saw Abby Polk's reflexes tag a runner out at second and throw to first for the final out of the inning. The 49ers came alive in the bottom of the third inning with a batter being walked to first, another advancing from a fielder's choice, and a throwing error to advance to third. With bases loaded, Charlotte popped a grand slam to right center taking the lead 4-2. Opening the top of the fourth with a 3-0 out, Alanna Deal responded with a solo shot to left center cutting into the 49ers' lead. Georgia Preddy followed with the second hit of the inning, but the inning abruptly ended with being caught stealing on second. Upstate regained the lead taking advantage of two consecutive errors resulting in Taliyah Thomas scoring from the wild pitch. With Sophia Kardatzke earning a hit in the infield, Carson Shaw's single up the middle caused chaos in the outfield taking the attention from Kardatzke to go from advancing to second to scoring. With the Spartans leading through the following two innings, Charlotte added another solo shot to left field to regain momentum and tie the battle at five. With both teams having quick innings through the seventh, both opponents entered the extra inning with hopes of stealing walking away with a victory. Upstate batted first and successfully scored a run with Alanna Deal adding a hit to left field to score Abigail Pippen who was placed on second due to the international tiebreaker rule. With Charlotte's turn to respond, the 49ers sent a two-run homer to centerfield for the walk-off in the instant classic between both teams.
Game Two vs. St Bonaventure (8-5, Win)
The Bonnies opened the top of the first inning tacking a double to left field putting a runner in scoring position. A RBI single to left field opened the scoring column with St. Bonaventure securing the first run. Upstate responded with Taliyah Thomas leading off the bottom of the inning with an infield single and stealing second. A wild pitch was enough to showcase the speed of Thomas advancing home to tie the game at one apiece. The Bonnies regained the lead with two runners getting on base with a walk, infield single, and an error. A sacrifice fly was enough to score one run in the top second inning leading 2-1. In Upstate fashion, the Spartans began to rally with Carson Shaw, Amie Johnson and Olivia Burkshire opening the inning with hits with Johnson's hit resulting in a run scored. The Spartans regained the lead with Taliyah Thomas' Two-RBI single to left center to lead 4-2. Denver Lauer added fuel to the fire with a RBI triple to right field to score another run. Abigail Pippen's single up the middle was enough to see Denver Lauer cruise her way to home plate moving the lead to 6-2. The Bonnies went cold at bat during the third inning with a groundout at first and Maddie Drerup retiring the following two batters. A bunt from Alanna Deal, infield single from Abby Polk and a walk from Amie Johnson loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning. With another batter being walked, Upstate added their seventh run and followed with Polk advancing home from a throwing error by the Bonnies. Through the following three innings, St. Bonaventure were limited to just one hit until the top of the seventh. With one last chance at a comeback, the Bonnies added a run from a wild pitch and followed with a two-RBI single to right field to trail by three. The Spartans halted the comeback with a groundout and Maddie Drerup getting the last out from a strikeout.
Notable
Up Next for the Spartans
Continuing play in the Coach Cooke Memorial Tournament, the Spartans return to the field for Day two of the matchup with Upstate taking on Southern Indiana at 10:00 A.M. & Youngstown State at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, March 1.
SAVE THE DATE FOR SPARTY'S BALL – MAY 17th – Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraising event of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF), to be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Milliken Club at Fifth Third Park. For tickets, sponsorship and auction information, click here!
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