SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Jena Keith's solo home run in the first game delivered a 2-1 win and USC Upstate scored three runs in the fifth inning of game two to take a 3-2 win as the 8th-ranked Spartans claimed a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader softball sweep of Francis Marion University, Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 28) at Cyrill Stadium.
USC Upstate improves to 10-2 overall and 3-1 in the Peach Belt, while Francis Marion falls to 4-4 and 0-4. The Patriots travel to Carson-Newman College for a twinbill on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Francis Marion struck first in game one when Janine Allen hit a hard grounder down the third base line and Keith could not come up with a lunging stab at the ball in the top of the first inning. The ball tipped off the top of Keith’s glove and Tatjana Slawson scored from second on the play to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.
USC Upstate answered in the bottom of the third inning when Stacey Kizer led off the inning with a solo home run. Keith then belted her game-winning home run in the bottom of the fourth to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.
Jessica Jolly (4-1) went the distance for USC Upstate, giving up just one run and scattering seven hits on the day. She struck out six and did not walk a batter to pick up the win. Junior right-hander Jessica Johnson (2-2) also went the distance for FMU, limiting USC Upstate to six hits in taking the hard-luck loss.
Francis Marion again drew first blood in the second game, plating two runs in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and one on, Allie Aleman hit a towering shot that hit off the scoreboard in left to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead.
However, USC Upstate answered in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and a runner on third, Stacey Stepek drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Teresa Haynes pinch ran for Stepek and stole second to put runners at second and third for senior shortstop Erin Driggers. Driggers hammered a single through the right side to score both runs and tie the game. Driggers later scored the game-winning run on Heidi Gibbs’ RBI single as USC Upstate took a 3-2 lead.
USC Upstate starter Jenn Whited (4-0) allowed just one hitter to reach in the final two innings to record the win. She struck out four and scattered eight hits on the day. Freshman righty Serena Lim (2-2) went the distance for Francis Marion.
Kayla Ruede led the Francis Marion offense with four hits on the day. Keith had two hits, a run scored, and an RBI to lead USC Upstate at the plate.
