Thursday, March 23, 2006

LADY SPARTANS SWEEP LADY SAINTS

Spartanburg, SC - Erin Driggers’ walk-off grand slam in the fifth inning gave USC Upstate an 8-0 victory in game two and helped complete the doubleheader sweep of Peach Belt foe North Georgia Wednesday evening at Cyrill Stadium.  The 12th-ranked Spartans claimed an 8-2 win over the Saints in the first game.

In game one, North Georgia struck first with a run in the first when Brittany Barnes doubled to drive in Lynsey Thompson.  USC Upstate answered with a pair of runs in the third inning.  Jena Keith singled to drive in both runs as the Spartans took a 2-1 lead.  USC Upstate added to the lead with a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Heidi Gibbs.

After North Georgia cut the USC Upstate lead to one, 3-2, with a run in the top of the fifth, USC Upstate took control of the game with a five-run fifth inning.  Baillie Denson drove in a pair of runs on a double and scored on Gibbs’ RBI single.  Shay Slater tripled to drive in the other two runs as the Spartans opened an 8-2 lead.

The offensive production was more than enough for USC Upstate starter Jessica Jolly.  Jolly finished the game with six strikeouts, scattering seven hits to improve to 13-3 on the year.  Dana Lowery (6-3) took the loss for North Georgia.

Gibbs finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Slater, Keith, and Denson each had two hits apiece for the Spartans.  Thompson led North Georgia with a pair of hits, an RBI, and a run scored.

In the second game, USC Upstate starter Jenn Whited tossed a no-hitter, finishing with four strikeouts on the night.  The senior from Spartanburg walked four to thwart the perfect game.  She improves to 9-2 on the year and got plenty of help offensively.  Rachel Bridges (2-4) took the loss for North Georgia.

USC Upstate took control of the game with a four-run second inning.  Jamie Amerine singled with runners on second and third to drive in two runs and later scored, along with Gibbs, on Slater’s double to give the Spartans a 4-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, Slater again doubled and Tiffany Pitcher followed with a walk.  Ashleigh Beck walked to lead the bases with one out and Driggers’ frozen rope home run ended the game as the Spartans took the 8-0 win.

Box Score, Game 1

Box Score, Game 2

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