SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Taking the field for day two of the Wings Etc. Classic, Upstate Softball battled Youngstown State and West Georgia for a doubleheader slate where the Spartans swept past the Penguins and Bulldogs. 

Game One vs. Youngstown State (2-0, Win) 

As Maddie Drerup made the start in the circle, the Penguins looked to start fast with a leadoff hit followed by a sacrifice bunt getting a runner in scoring position. Following another base hit, Drerup struck out the following batter and escaped the inning following Emily Stern's putout in the right field. Both teams looked for their offense to take the next step with entering the scoring column first, but the discipline defensively made quick work through the following three innings. Entering the bottom of the fifth, Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan led off with an infield single followed by a base hit from Carson Shaw. With Cariana Stout and Georgia Preddy entering the fray as pinch runners, Amie Johnson connected at the perfect time with a two-RBI single to left field giving the Spartans the lead. As Youngstown State looked for answers through the final two innings, Maddie Drerup ended both innings striking out the Penguin batters for the first shutout of the season. 

Game Two vs. West Georgia (4-2, Win) 

Taking the field for a day two rematch, West Georgia wasted little time adding a leadoff hit followed by sacrifice bunt. The Wolves entered the scoring column first with an RBI single to right center going into the bottom of the first with a one-run lead. Upstate quickly responded as Emily Stern doubled past third base, putting the Wolves in a bind early. Following a foul ball caught at second base, Emily Stern advanced to third, but a throwing error helped take advantage, tying the game at one apiece. Laney Jennings followed with a base hit keeping the Spartans' offense at a steady pace through the early going. Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan continued her weekend of long bombs, knocking a two-run homer left center pushing Upstate ahead, 3-1. As the Wolves returned to the plate and Laila Landrum in the circle, the Spartans made quick work in the inning as Landrum corralled the final out in the bottom of the second. The Spartans boosted their lead in the bottom of the third with Emily Stern taking advantage of another error from West Georgia as she made her way to home plate for the fourth run. West Georgia looked to rally in the top of the sixth, with a runner stealing third and taking an advantage of a throwing error from Upstate, cutting their deficit to two. The Spartans were able to halt any extra momentum from the Wolves, holding their lead through the following two innings for a 4-2 final. 

Notables for Day two 

• Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan was the lone Spartan to hit a homerun on day two of the Wings Etc. Classic, moving her season total to two on the season.  

• Freshman, Laila Landrum made her first collegiate start in the circle against West Georgia, striking out a batter and earning her first win.  

• Maddie Drerup earned her first shutout of the season as the Spartans moved past Youngstown State in a day two rematch, striking out four batters and earning her fourth win of the season. 

Up next for the Spartans  

Following hosting the Wings Etc. Classic, Upstate returns to the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium hosting the Upstate Classic beginning Friday, Feb. 20th and wrapping up Saturday, Feb. 21st. On Friday, Upstate will host Harvard and Holy Cross followed by taking on Robert Morris and Morgan State on Saturday.   

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