March 24, 2008

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Spartanburg, S.C. - Tiffany Pitcher and Morgan Childers turned in key outings in the first game to lead Upstate to a 6-0 victory over East Tennessee State, but ETSU exploded for 13 runs in game two to take a 13-6 victory and earn a split in the A-Sun doubleheader at Cyrill Stadium Monday night.

Upstate stands 17-8 overall and 3-3 in the A-Sun. The split marks the fifth straight doubleheader split for the Spartans. ETSU is 14-18 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Also in the doubleheader, Upstate's Shay Slater scored two runs to increase her career total to 182, tying the school's all-time runs record held by Krista Altom.

"I don't know what happens from game one to game two, but we have got to figure out how to play more consistent from game to game," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. "We play well in the first game, then fall apart in the second. Once we figure out how to put together solid performances in both games, I think we will have a good team."

Pitcher collected a pair of doubles and RBIs to lead the Spartans at the plate in game one. Slater finished the game 3-for-4 with a run. Courtney Feldon also turned in a strong effort, finishing 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI.

Childers won her 14th game of the season after scattering four hits and striking out eight to earn the complete game victory. Marissa Hardy went the distance for ETSU, allowing six runs, three of which were unearned, on 11 hits to fall to 7-6.

Upstate scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the game. Feldon and Vanesa Flores each collected RBI hits in the inning. Upstate added a pair of runs in the third inning when Pitcher hit her second double of the game to drive in both runs as Upstate took a 5-0 lead. Kim Brasil ended the scoring when she scored on a wild pitch in the sixth.

The hard luck continued for Upstate starter Brittany Rice in the second game. She threw well but did not factor in the decision as East Tennessee State exploded for 12 runs in the final three innings to take the 13-6 win.

ETSU jumped out on top with a run in the second on Hardy's RBI single. Upstate answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth when pinch runner Melissa Lockey scored on a wild pitch and Pitcher executed a suicide squeeze to score Feldon. Then, things got interesting.

ETSU scored four runs in the inning to take a 5-2 lead. After Cheniece Cason singled to drive in pinch runner Briana Knight and put runners on second and third with one out, Rice was lifted for Childers. Katy Jett hit a three-run home run to give the Lady Buccaneers a 5-2 lead. Upstate answered with four runs of their own in the inning on a two-run home run by Brasil, a sacrifice fly from Lauren Quevedo and an unearned run scoring on a throwing error.

ETSU answered again, scoring five runs in the sixth inning. Cat Zyskowski collected a two-RBI double, Cason singled to drive in a run, and Jett drove in two runs on a double to give the Lady Bucs a 10-5 lead. ETSU added three runs in the ninth for the final margin as Upstate could get no closer.

Jett led ETSU at the plate, finishing with two hits and five RBIs. Hardy was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Brasil and Gibbs led Upstate at the plate, finishing with two hits apiece. Childers took the loss for Upstate, giving up six runs on six hits to take her record to 14-4. ETSU starter Ashley Boyd went the distance, giving up just two earned runs to improve to 4-3 on the year.