FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-10-04

College Softball: No. 7 AASU 4 (8 inn.)-1, USC Spartanburg 0-9

Release Courtesy of USC Spartanburg Sports Information

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Spartanburg rebounded from a tough 4-0 extra inning loss in game one to take a dominating 9-1 victory in game two of the Peach Belt Conference doubleheader against seventh-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State Saturday afternoon at Cyrill Stadium.

USCS improves its record to 34-12 overall and 11-9 in the Peach Belt Conference. Armstrong Atlantic State stands at 36-5 overall and 14-4 in the league. USCS travels to Due West, SC, to take on Erskine Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., while AASU travels to Columbus State Monday for a PBC doubleheader with the Lady Cougars.

In game one, USCS starter Jen Whited and AASU starter Katya Eronina battled each other to a scoreless draw through seven innings. Whited gave up seven hits through the first seven innings and pitched out of two jams. The Pirates strung together two singles to lead off the fourth inning, but Whited got three consecutive pop fly outs to get of the jam. Kissy Stepanova tripled with one out in the sixth inning, but Kristina Nelson, who pinch ran for Stepanova, was tagged out at home on Stacey Richardson’s fielder’s choice to end the threat.

USCS had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Evan Miller walked to lead off the inning. Kacey Ayers put down a sacrifice bunt that moved Miller to second, but Miller overan the bag and eventually beat the throw to third to put the winning run one base away with one out. However, Eronina got a fly out and a ground out to end the inning and the threat.

In the top of the eighth inning, Stepanova and Chelce Culberson each hit two-run homeruns off Whited to give the Pirates the 4-0 lead. Eronina pitched a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the eighth to earn the win. Eronina improves to a perfect 26-0 on the year. She tallied seven strikeouts and gave up just one hit in eight innings of work. Whited (14-4) struck out nine, but took the loss for the Lady Rifles.

In the second game, USCS started strong and remained solid throughout the game, ending the game after six inning with a 9-1 victory. Kasey Heron (10-3) tossed an impressive six innings, scattering six hits and one run to pick up the win. Katy Perkins (9-3) took the loss for the Pirates.

Armstrong Atlantic State scored first in the game when Amber Hunt led off the first inning with a solo homerun. However, USCS replied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on Ayers’ two-run opposite field homer.

USCS added to its lead with two runs in the fourth inning when Krista Altom doubled to drive in two runs. The Lady Rifles increased its lead to 7-1 in the fifth inning. Allie Cyrill led off the inning with a solo homerun, Jackie Sepulveda scored from third on a throwing error by the Pirate catcher, and Kristin Dodson’s single drove in Ayers. USCS put the game away with a pair of runs in the sixth inning an RBI single by Ayers and a bases loaded walk to Karly Justice.

Ayers finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Five other Lady Rifles collected two hits in the game. Stepanova finished the doubleheader 4-for-7 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead Armstrong Atlantic State at the plate.

-Pirates-