DELAND, Fla. - Returning to Patricia Field in the Sunshine State, USC Upstate Softball took the field for Day two of the John B. Stetson Invite for doubleheader against Bryant University and Stetson. Upstate opened the day with a run-rule finish winning 15-1 over the Bulldogs and fell to the Hatters with a fight to the finish with a final score of 9-6. 

Game One vs. Bryant (15-1, Win) 

Upstate opened the top of the first inning with Taliyah Thomas leading off with an infield single and a stolen base at second. A throwing error from the catcher and a groundout at first advanced Thomas home for the first run of the day. Sophia Kardatzke intensified the matchup with a solo home run to right center ending the first inning with a 2-0 lead. Bryant responded in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff hit and the following batter getting on base from a hit by pitch. With a runner in scoring position, the Bulldogs singled up the middle scoring their first run. The second inning proved to the rally Upstate needed to fully shift the momentum their way with Alanna Deal opening the inning with a double down the left field line. With the following two batters being walked and hit by pitch, Alanna Deal took advantage of the throwing error in the infield for another run. Denver Lauer and Carson Shaw's RBI singles were enough to score a combined four runs moving their lead to 7-1. The inning tallied two more runs with Alanna Deal following with her second double of the day resulting in two runs scored. Upstate shut the door for any chances of a comeback with Denver Lauer and Abigail Pippen knocking two consecutive RBI singles for a 12-1 lead. The final three runs were scored from Carson Shaw and Abby Polk's infield hits followed by a sacrifice fly to win in five innings with a final score of 15-1. In the circle, Sierra Maness moved to 9-2 with three strikeouts being ranked behind Maddie Drerup as the top two pitchers in the Big South for the most wins in the circle. 

Game Two vs. Stetson (9-6, Loss) 

Taliyah Thomas and Denver Lauer led off with the first two hits with hopes of taking an early lead but the Hatters were able to escape the inning before the Spartans could heat up. Stetson opened the scoring column with a walk and stolen base resulting in an RBI single to lead 1-0. The momentum continued to stay with the Hatters scoring four runs off four hits in the bottom of the third inning to lead 5-0. Upstate regrouped with Amie Johnson opening the top of the fifth inning with Amie Johnson starting with a leadoff single to right field. With Georgia Preddy being walked next at bat and an infield throwing error, Upstate added their first run with Johnson advancing home. Denver Lauer followed with a two-RBI triple advancing Preddy and Thomas home to cut in closer to the Hatters' lead with a 5-3 score. With zero outs still on the board, a groundout at first took the attention away from Denver Lauer sprinting home tying the game at five to bring new energy to the field. Upstate was not done as Amie Johnson connected on the one-two count for an infield single up the middle putting the Spartans ahead 6-5 with another RBI. Stetson responded with adding two runs from a bases-loaded walk and a hit by pitch to regain the lead. Putting the Hatters further ahead, Stetson added a two-RBI single to left field regaining the momentum. The Hatters allowed just one more hit to hold on through the following two innings winning 9-6. 

Notable 

• Upstate's 15-run game against Bryant made it their seventh game scoring over 10+ runs and their eighth game winning via run rule. 

• Upstate finishes the John B. Stetson invite going 2-2 and wraps up action in the Sunshine State with their next focus shifting to Midweek action over Spring Break. 

Up Next for the Spartans  

Following their weekend trip in Florida, Upstate will return to the Hub City for a midweek battle against South Dakota State Wednesday, March 12 for a doubleheader with game one slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. and game two to follow at 4:00 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!        

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