SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate used multi-run innings over the first four frames to seize control and claim a 16-3 midweek victory over Western Carolina softball on Tuesday afternoon in single-game action at Cyrill Stadium.
WCU senior Tessa Juett legged out an RBI triple for her first three-bagger of the season and sophomore Sydney Dirks added a seventh double among the offensive highlights for the Catamounts. Sophomore Maya McPherson picked up her team-best 10th double of the campaign with a pair of RBIs.
Sophomore Lily Bell tallied a pair of base hits for her 21st multi-hit game of the season and also swiped her 25th stolen base. Graduate student Imara Harrell also got in the hit column for WCU with an infield single.
USC Upstate (33-11) used a four-run opening frame including a two-run home run to gain the early edge in midweek action. The Spartans increased their advantage in the second with a two-run double before a three-run third allowed the hosts to take a 9-0 lead after three frames.
Western Carolina's best offensive threat came in the fourth inning as Dirks reached on a one-out double to the right field wall before an RBI triple from Juett got the Catamounts on the scoreboard and made it 9-1.
Upstate answered quickly, though, with a seven-run home half of the fourth en route to claiming the run-rule victory from the Hub City. McPherson added a two-run double in the fifth inning before the hosts claimed the win in nonconference action.
Juett (8-12) got the start for Western Carolina on Tuesday, going 1.1 innings allowing five hits and six runs with three of those being earned. The Berea, Ky. native also had a pair of strikeouts. Freshman Amanda Fulton entered and went 2.0 innings, allowing nine hits and nine runs with a strikeout. Senior Makenzie Martin recorded the final two outs for WCU, surrendering three hits and a run in her outing.
Sierra Maness (18-5) earned the win for Upstate, going 3.0 innings limiting WCU to a hit with four strikeouts. Maddie Drerup entered in relief for the Spartans and pitched the final 2.0 innings as she allowed five hits and three runs with a strikeout.
Western Carolina (20-24) heads to the Peach State for a three-game holiday weekend set with Mercer beginning on Friday, April 18. The Catamounts and Bears open play with a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Friday before the series finale at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with all three games at the on-campus Sikes Field.
Friday's twin bill is slated for ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with all three games having live stats provided at CatamountSports.com.
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