Story provided by the USC Upstate Athletics Department
Photo by Big South Sports
Taking the field for the Big South Softball Championship Final with another chapter of the Spartans and Eagles for the third consecutive year, Upstate Softball completed the three-peat defeating No. 1 seed, Winthrop with a 12-2 final in run rule fashion over the Eagles.
Opening the top of the first, Winthrop opened the scoring column with a base hit followed a double that brought a run home. The Eagles followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to put Upstate behind two runs. Taliyah Thomas and Sophia Kardatazke opened the bottom of the first inning with base hits which was followed by Ella Christopher driving in a run with an RBI single through the left side to cut into the deficit.
Heading into the second inning, Upstate cooled the Eagles’ offense as Maddie Drerup struck out two batters keeping the Eagles at two. Upstate began to warm the bats up in the bottom half as Laney Jennings opened with a solo home run to left center for the tying run. With Abby Polk following a with a base hit and stealing second, Taliyah Thomas entered the fray putting the Spartans ahead with a two-run homer.
As Ashlyn Brown entered the circle, the help of the defense displayed with a double play from Ella Christopher to Carson Shaw to quickly end the inning. Upstate continued their firepower at the plate as Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan added a leadoff single and Alyssa Davenport drove in the fifth run with a double down the left field line.
Abby Polk followed with driving in the sixth run for a double on the right field line along with Taliyah Thomas adding her third hit with an RBI single through the left side to increase the lead to 7-2.
Winthrop added their best shot to cut into the deficit with loading the bases, but the Spartans were able to get out the jam to continue to hold the Eagles at two. Ella Christopher joined the hitting parade with a leadoff home run to left center to push Upstate closer to run rule territory. Following a fielding error from the Eagles, Alyssa Davenport advanced home for the ninth run.
Taliyah Thomas continued her day with her fourth hit for a two-RBI double down the left field line and Sophia Kardatzke added her second hit advancing Thomas home for the 12th run.
Winthrop looked for one last chance to extend the games but the Spartans held their ground with a three up, three down inning to complete the three-peat while becoming the first host school to win the Big South Softball Championships since Longwood in 2017.
Up next for the Spartans:
Following the Championship win, Upstate Softball is now an automatic qualifier for the 2026 NCAA Regionals and will find out their next destination to continue their journey on Sunday, May 10th during the NCAA Softball Selection Show at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time.