USC Upstate Reaches Regional Final with Two Wins on Saturday
By USC Upstate Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Taking the field for Saturday afternoon action, Upstate Softball did not have anything to lose and everything to gain as the Spartans battled in an Elimination game with Southeastern Louisiana outdueling the Lions with a 5-4 final. Following the win, Upstate had a quick turnaround against Belmont where the Spartans' offense dominated from the start, winning 10-1 to advance to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time in program history.
Game One vs. SE Louisiana (5-4, Win)
Taking the field against the Lions, SE Louisiana added a bunt single and sacrifice bunt looking to set the tone with their small ball style of play. Upstate refocused with two consecutive outs stranding a runner at second to keep the Lions scoreless. As Upstate began to find their rhythm offensively with a base hit from Ella Christopher in the bottom of the second, the action picked up in the bottom of the third beginning with Abby Polk leading off with a base hit to left field. A fielder's choice turned into a throwing error advanced Polk to third, and the second error on the following play was enough to advance her home for the first run. The Spartans ended the inning with their second run as Carson Shaw added an RBI single to left center for a two-run lead. Upstate entered the top of the fourth not allowing a hit or a runner on base for quick work heading into the bottom half. Ella Christopher opened with her second base hit followed by Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan moving a runner over with a sacrifice bunt. The Lions' pitching staff began to have a jam on the bases with two bases loaded walks going in the Spartans' favor for a 4-0 lead. The Lions continued to climb their way with two hits through the following innings but the Spartans were able to keep the Lions in the zero column. Adding some insurance, Taliyah Thomas connected on an RBI single to left field to give Upstate a five-run lead. SE Louisiana did not go away quiet as the Lions opened the top of the seventh with three runs without any outs on the board. A groundout at first helped the Lions add their fourth run but the Spartans avoided the rally to continue as Carson Shaw corralled the final out to advance to give Upstate their first NCAA Regionals win since May 19, 2017.
Game Two vs. Belmont (10-1, Win)
Facing a quick turnaround, the Spartans' offense was far from cooling off as the bats heated up with Alyssa Davenport driving in a run on an RBI single to center field. Laney Jennings followed with a two-RBI double to center field advancing Davenport and Ella Christopher home and Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan knocked an RBI single to right field building their lead to 4-0 on five hits. As Ashlyn Brown entered the circle, the Spartans made quick work with two groundouts and pop-up to right field. As the momentum continued to build, the top of the fourth saw Upstate add two runners on from a hit by pitch and a two-out single from Taliyah Thomas. Boosting their offense, Sophia Kardatzke knocked an RBI single to center field to increase their lead to 5-0. Belmont saw life on the offensive side loading the bases from two walks and a base hit. The first run for the Bruins was a sacrifice fly to left field but the Spartans would strand the final two runners to keep a four-run lead. The Spartans' offense opened the top of the fifth with Alyssa Davenport adding a leadoff single and Laney Jennings driving the sixth run in with a double to left center. Following a wild pitch, Jennings sprinted to third and Abby Polk's double down the right field line built the lead to 7-1 forcing the Bruins to sit their second pitcher down. With another opportunity to cut into the deficit, Belmont loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with two base hits and a walk. The Spartans refocused with Ella Christopher throwing a runner out at home followed by Amie Johnson corralling two pop-ups to left field. Entering the top of the seventh, the bats were far from cooling off as Abby Polk led off with a double to right field and Amie Johnson drove the run in on a double down the right field line. A throwing error in the infield and a sacrifice fly from Sophia Kardatzke increased Upstate's lead to 10-1 now needing three outs in the bottom of the inning. With a pop-up and a groundout, Upstate did not allow a hit from Belmont or a rally as Maddie Drerup struck out the final batter to advance to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time in program history.
Notables
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The win over SE Louisiana marked the first NCAA Regional win since May 19, 2017 where the Spartans defeated Ohio State in the NCAA Knoxville Regional. The win also marked the first win in NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional since May 16, 2015, against Fairfield.
Up next for the Spartans
Following a historic day, the Spartans advances to the NCAA Regional Final with a rematch against the National No. 1 seed, University of Alabama at 1:00 P.M. Eastern time. The Spartans would have to win two games to clinch the NCAA Super Regionals.