#3 USC Upstate Rallies Past #4 Winthrop, 5-4, to Reach Championship Round
By USC Upstate Athletics
CLINTON, S.C. - Returning to the field at the PC Softball Complex for the 2025 Big South Softball Championships, No. 3 seed USC Upstate Softball battled with No. 4 seed Winthrop University in a 2024 Conference Championship rematch with the Spartans rallying past the Eagles for a 5-4 win.
Winthrop opened the scoring column with a lead off walk and stealing second to drive in a run to lead 1-0. The Spartans responded in the bottom of the inning with Denver Lauer making her way to first with a walk. Alanna Deal began her day with a single through the left side followed by stealing second to put the Eagles in a bind. With two runners in scoring position, a groundout to first took the attention away from Lauer advancing from third to tie the game at one. Upstate took the lead with Emily Stern getting on first with a walk which followed with the speed of Stern stealing second and advancing home from a throwing error putting the Spartans in the lead 2-1.
In the circle, Sierra Maness struck out the leadoff batter in the top of the third helping start a quick inning as Liza Simmerson and Maness grounding out the following two batters. The Eagles responded with getting two runners on with a walk and an infield single resulting in the following at bat ending with a three-run homer to regain the lead 4-2. As the Spartans looked to regain their momentum, the bottom of the fifth heightened the intensity with Alanna Deal doubling to center field to drive in a run creeping closer to Winthrop's lead. Sophia Kardatzke followed with a RBI single past the infield helping send Alanna Deal home for the tying run.
With Kardatzke stealing second, Abigail Pippen proved to be ready for the big moment smacking a two-out single putting Upstate back in the lead. Defensively, Upstate cooled off Winthrop at the plate with Sierra Maness striking out a batter and Abby Polk adding two consecutive groundouts. With a final chance for Winthrop to extend the game, the Spartans made quick work with no hits allowed for a three up, three down inning to advance to the Championship round.
Upstate Softball takes the field for the Championship round Saturday, May 10 at 12:00 P.M. EST where the Spartans will take on the winner against Winthrop vs. Radford.