Friday, March 16, 2007

NO. 19 USC UPSTATE BEATS TUSCULUM SOFTBALL 7-3

SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- Six Spartans collected two hits on the day as 19^th-ranked USC Upstate defeated Tusculum 7-3 in the South Carolina Fastpitch Classic played at the 295 Sports Complex Friday.

The tournament has been altered due to rain.  The tournament will be a round robin format with no single elimination portion of the tournament. Tusculum will play three games on Saturday. TC will face UNC Pembroke at noon, followed by a 2 p.m. contest against Armstrong Atlantic State. Tusculum will wrap up Saturday’s action with a 6 p.m. match-up with West Virginia State. TC will also face UNCP again on Sunday at noon.

The Spartans (20-6) pounded out 13 hits and scored seven runs in defeating the Pioneers.  Upstate opened the scoring in the first inning when Vanesa Flores doubled to drive in Shay Slater.  Tusculum tied the game in the second when Judith Savaadra singled to score Holli Cadenhead.

Amber Patterson and Baillie Denson hit back-to-back doubles to drive in a run each and Ashleigh Beck collected a RBI-single in the third inning as the Spartans plated three runs to open a 4-1 lead.  The hit resulted in the eventual game-winning run.

Tusculum got within 4-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning when Makenzie Loy hit a two-run home run.  However, Upstate answered in the bottom of the frame.  Tiffany Pitcher singled to right center to drive in Denson and Heidi Gibbs doubled down the left field line to score Pitcher and Beck as Upstate opened a 7-3 lead.

Upstate starter Brittany Rice tossed five innings to pick up the win and improve to 6-4.  Jessica Jolly pitched the last two innings in relief, striking out two and did not allow a hit. Tusculum’s Jessica Bales took the loss as she falls to 3-1 on the year.

- TC -