SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Returning to the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium, USC Upstate hosts South Dakota in a midweek battle which will be last game before Big South Play opens on March 15th. Upstate Softball looks to continue adding to their win total while taming the Coyotes at home.
Wednesday's Matchup
March 12, 2025| 2:00 & 4:00 P.M. ET
USC Upstate (21-4; 0-0 Big South) vs. South Dakota (15-8; 0-0 The Summit League)
Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium| Spartanburg, S.C.
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
How they Stack Up
Series: South Dakota leads 1-0
Last Matchup: Mar. 9, 2018 (SD 7; UPST 4)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: The Freshman from Jacksonville, Florida, Sophia Kardatzke has continued to make an immediate impact for the Spartans whether if she is at bat or in the circle. At the plate, Kardatzke is second on the team with a .430 batting average while being ranked #3 in the Big South. Kardatzke has continued to cause trouble for opposing pitchers with her six homeruns on the season which is a team-high & #1 in the Big South. On March 11, 2025, Sophia Kardatzke was named the Big South Freshman of the Week making it her third of the season. With much depth with USC Upstate, South Dakota will have their hands full with looking to contain Sophia Kardatzke who is tied second the team with 34 hits.
South Dakota: The Senior Infielder from Blair, Nebraska, Tatum Villotta leads the Coyotes with a .480 batting average while being on a two-game streak with two or more hits in a game. Coming off the win against fellow Big South opponent, Presbyterian, Villotta went 2-for-3 while adding two runs scored, two RBIs, one double, and one stolen base. On the season, she leads South Dakota with 36 hits, 22 runs scored, and three triples. The pitching staff of Upstate will look to slow down the Coyotes at bat while halting their hot streak at bat during their South Carolina trip.
Up Next for the Spartans
Upstate Softball opens Big South Play with a road trip to Clinton, South Carolina to take on conference foe, Presbyterian College beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 15th at 1:00 & 3:00 P.M. followed by a single game on Sunday, March 16th at 1:00 P.M.
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!
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
