Upstate Softball makes final road trip of the season to Charleston Southern for a Big South Weekend Series

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Continuing action through the week where many teams in the Big South are wrapping up regular season play, USC Upstate Softball travels to the Lowcountry for their final road trip of one of two final series, taking on Charleston Southern beginning Friday, April 24 at 4:00 P.M. Eastern and following with doubleheader action on Saturday, April 25 at 1:00 & 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time.

Overview

Following a bye weekend, Upstate Softball will travel to Charleston Southern and wrap up regular season play with Presbyterian the following weekend. The Spartans are 1-1 on the week with a Wednesday evening split with South Carolina State. Charleston Southern also comes off a midweek split with crosstown action with the College of Charleston with a game two response for a 4-3 final. USC Upstate (29-19; 8-4 Big South) meets Charleston Southern (9-39; 3-12 Big South) for the first time since April 12, 2025, coincidentally where it was Senior Day weekend for the Spartans swept the Buccaneers through three games. Through the Senior Day weekend for Charleston Southern, the Spartans battle with Charleston Southern looking to continue climbing the standings in Conference Play for a higher seed and push for the regular season title.

This Weekend's Matchup

Apr. 24, 2026| 4:00 P.M. EST

Apr. 25, 2026| 1:00 P.M. EST

Apr. 25, 2026| 3:00 P.M. EST

USC Upstate Spartans (29-19; 8-4 Big South) vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers (9-39; 3-12 Big South)

Location: CSU Softball Complex| Charleston, South Carolina

TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App

How they Stack Up

All-Time Series: USC Upstate leads 36-6

Last Five Matchups: Apr. 12, 2025 (UPST 8; CSU 3); Apr. 12, 2025 (UPST 13; CSU 5); Apr. 11, 2025 (UPST 8; CSU 1); May 9, 2024 (UPST 6; CSU 3); Mar. 25, 2024 (UPST 5; CSU 1)

Players to Watch

USC Upstate: Senior Pitcher, Maddie Drerup has continued to be the ace that steers the ship and sets the tone with her consistency in the circle. Following being named the Big South Co-Pitcher of the Week on Monday, April 20, Drerup added her 16th win in the circle with a game one victory over SC State which is the second most wins in her career in the circle (21 during her Freshman Season) while adding her 21st complete game which is a #2 ranking in the NCAA. Drerup's six shutouts in the circle are also a top 10 ranking at #5 in the NCAA. As Upstate heads to Charleston for the weekend, Maddie Drerup will be a player to keep an eye on as she looks to be a tone setter in the series.

Charleston Southern: Junior Utility, Jordyn Dimond leads the Buccaneers with a .391 batting average, 52 hits, six doubles, 25 runs scored, and adds nine stolen bases. Dimond leads Charleston Southern with 14 multi-hit games (11 with two, three games with three) while adding five multi-RBI games (four with two, one game with three). Through Conference Play, Dimond leads with a .457 batting average and 21 hits including three games with three-hit performances. As Upstate battles through the Charleston Southern lineup, Jordyn Dimond will be a player to keep an eye on.

Up next for the Spartans

Following the final road trip in conference play, Upstate Softball returns to the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium for a three-game series in the regular season finale where the Spartans hosts Presbyterian College for a doubleheader on Friday, May 1 at 3:00 & 5:00 P.M. Eastern and wraps up play on Saturday, May 2 at 1:00 P.M. Following the regular season finale on May 2, Senior Day festivities will be held for five players (Taliyah Thomas, Maddie Drerup, Carson Shaw, Amie Johnson, Ella Christopher).

USC UPSTATE TO HOST 2026 BIG SOUTH SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Buy your tickets now for the 2026 Big South Softball Championship to be held at Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium. The event will be held May 6-9 and for more information and tickets, click here. (A clear bag policy will be enforced for this event.)

TICKETS ON-SALE FOR SPARTY'S BALL – MAY 15th
Support USC Upstate student-athletes at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraising event of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF), to be held Friday, May 15, 2026, at The Piedmont Club. For tickets, sponsorship and auction information, click here!

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ella Christopher

Maddie Drerup

Amie Johnson

Carson Shaw

Taliyah Thomas

Footer