Eagles Fall To USC Upstate In Big South Championship

Clinton, S.C. – Winthrop softball dropped a hard fought battle against USC Upstate in the Big South Championship game as a big first inning led to a 7-4 victory for the Spartans.

GAME INFORMATION

RECORD: (4) Winthrop (30-23, 10-8 Big South) | (3) USC Upstate (39-14, 10-8 Big South)

WINTHROP LEADERS: Megan Powell (4-4, R, HR, RBI) | Katie Beck (1-3, R, HR, 2RBI) | Emma Jackson (1-4, R, 2B) | Lonna Addison (5IP, 4H, R, BB, 2K / 0-2, BB)

WHAT HAPPENED

• Upstate grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first inning
• It started when Denver Lauer led off with a double down the left field line
• Alanna Deal followed with a walk and then on a 2-1 count it looked like Sophia Kardatzke was hit by a pitch but after conversations among the umpire and coaches she was brought back for a 3-1 count
• On that play Lauer and Deal were allowed to move over a base and remain
• The next pitch Kardatzke pulled a soft floater to left field, scoring Lauer for a 1-0 lead
• Carson Shaw followed with a single through the left side that plated two more runs
• Abigail Pippen followed by reaching on an error at first base that scored Shaw from second on the play
• Upstate managed two more runs to extend the lead to 6-0
• Eagles got on the board in the third inning as Megan Powell homered to left field
• Tia Beckham followed with a double to center, but was stranded
• Upstate answered in the bottom half of the third as Abby Polk drew a leadoff walk and then scored three batters later on a double down the left field line by Liza Simmerson
• Eagles threatened in the top of the fourth inning as Katie Beck started it off with a leadoff walk
• After a flyout by Annelisa Winebarger, Beck hustled all the way from first to third on a wild pitch
• Lonna Addison then drew a walk on a full count to put runners at the corners
• Tabitha Perry tried to lay down a bunt but Deal at third base raced in to catch the bunt and then quickly threw to first for a double play to end the top half
• Katie Beck cut into the Upstate lead in the top of the sixth as Peyton Bryden led off with a triple off the right field wall and then Beck homered to right to trail 7-3
• Emma Jackson led off the top of the seventh with a double down the left field line and Powell followed with a single to left to put runners at the corners with no outs
• Emma Roberson came in to pinch-run for Powell and stole second to put two runners in scoring position
• Two batters later Bryden grounded to second to pull the Eagles within three runs as Jackson scored from third but unfortunately the Eagles were unable to keep the rally going

EXTRA BASES

• This was the second straight year the Eagles played in a Big South Championship game and the 15^th all-time
• Powell and Back’s home runs put the team total at 51 for the season, third most in program history for a single-season
• It is just the fourth time in program history that an Eagle team had 50 or more home runs in a single-season
• It also gave the Eagles three players with 10 or more home runs this season
• This is the first time in program history the Eagles have had three players with 10 or more in a season (Powell, Beck and Beckham all have 10)
• Powell had her second four-hit game of the tournament and finished the tournament with nine hits, two runs and three RBI
• Jackson had a team-best six runs in the tournament giving her 120 for her career
• Powell, Jackson and Addison were named to the Big South All-Tournament Team

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