MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Taking the field for the final day of action in the Sunshine State, USC Upstate Softball rounded out the trip with a twin bill of action with Central Michigan where the Spartans battled out game one on Sunday action with 5-4 victory and came short of a seventh inning rally with Central Michigan winning 6-5. The Spartans and Chippewas walk away from Florida with two wins apiece through games of action as a result.
Game One (5-4, Win)
Central Michigan opened the scoring column with a runner in scoring position resulting in a double to right center, bringing in a run. Upstate did not take long to even the playing field as Carson Shaw called her shot with a solo home run to left field for the tying run in the top of the second. Central Michigan looked to bring more runners to home plate in the bottom of the inning following two base hits but a fly out to Taliyah Thomas kept the runs at one apiece. The Chippewas followed taking the lead with a solo home run to right field, taking the lead at 2-1 and looked to advance a run home with another runner on third. The connection of a chase down from Carson Shaw, Laney Jennings and Alyssa Davenport tagged a runner out at third, halting the momentum. The Spartans opened the top of the fourth with two consecutive base hits from Laney Jennings and Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan, quickly putting Central Michigan in a bind with zero outs on the board. As Central Michigan focused on Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan advancing to second, Molly Vaughn advanced on the throw to advance to third with a chance to add the tying run. A miscue in the infield caused Central Michigan to forget the outs on the board and as the Chippewas jogged off the field, Vaughn took advantage of the situation and slid home for the tying run. The offense of Upstate continued to build in the top of the fifth as Amie Johnson advanced to first from a base hit and took advantage of a throwing error, making her way to second. Abby Polk’s triple to right field helped Upstate take the lead and regain momentum on their side. Taliyah Thomas followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, resulting in Polk beating out the throw to increase the lead to 4-2. Central Michigan did not go away easily as the Chippewas added two runs through the following innings from a solo home run and an RBI single. Coming into the seventh inning, Abby Polk led off with a double to right center followed by Taliyah Thomas making her way to first base following a throwing error. As Alyssa Davenport‘s connect on the bat flew to center field, Polk advanced home putting Upstate back in the lead. As Ashlyn Brown entered the circle with her defense behind her in the bottom of seventh, a groundout to Abby Polk and foul ball to Alyssa Davenport quickly put two outs on the board. With one last shot for Central Michigan, Ashlyn Brown corralled the final out for the Spartans to open Sunday action with a victory.
Game Two (6-5, Loss)
Central Michigan opened game two with a base hit and a walk to begin their offense, resulting in a three-run homer jumping ahead in the early going. The Chippewas followed their second home run of game two with a solo shot as Upstate looked to respond in the next inning. Abby Polk led off with a base hit up the middle followed by Amie Johnson making her way to first from a five-pitch walk and second base due to a wild pitch. The bases loaded with Taliyah Thomas walking to first, resulting in Alyssa Davenport advancing a runner home from an RBI Single. Central Michigan escaped the inning with three runners stranded, as the Chippewas corralled the following three outs. Leading 4-1 through the following three innings, Central Michigan added two base hits and a fielding error in the outfield helped a runner advance to third. The Chippewas capped off the inning with an RBI single and sacrifice fly to increase their deficit. Upstate came into the seventh inning with two consecutive base hits from Emily Stern and Abby Polk. A fielder’s choice from Laila Landrum helped advance Stern to third and add more life with only one out on the board. Taliyah Thomas added the second run with an RBI single to right field and the hitting parade continued with Alyssa Davenport adding a base hit to load the bases. Upstate continued to rally with a two-RBI double from Laney Jennings, sending Taliyah Thomas and Amie Johnson home, cutting their deficit to two runs. As Upstate continued the way of momentum, Carson Shaw entered the fray with an RBI single to center field for fourth run of the inning and fifth overall to now trail by one. Central Michigan held off the comeback, corralling the following two outs with a pop-up and groundout for a 6-5 final.
Notables
Alyssa Davenport moved to #3 on the team with her seventh multi-hit game of the season, where she had her fourth game with two hits.
Senior, Carson Shaw joins the home run club with her first on the season, adding to Upstate’s 18th on the year.
Up next for the Spartans
Ending action in Florida, Upstate Softball will turn their focus to returning to the Palmetto State where Upstate will travel to the College of Charleston for Wednesday afternoon action with doubleheader action beginning at 3:00 & 5:00 P.M. Eastern time.
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