May 10, 2007

Columbus, GA - #5 USC Upstate scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 12-2 victory over #4 Carson-Newman in the third game of the Division II Softball South Atlantic Regional at South Commons Stadium. The Spartans pounded out 14 hits in a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule.

USC Upstate (47-13) jumped on Carson-Newman starter Stephanie Templeton with six runs on five hits in the first inning. Templeton didn't retire a batter and was replaced by Jessie Armstrong.

Tiffany Pitcher and Shay Slater each had three hits and two RBIs for USC Upstate. Katie Adams, Baillie Denson, and Jamie Amerine chipped in with two hits apiece. Amber Patterson had a double and two RBIs for the Spartans.

Carson-Newman's runs came courtesy of home runs. Katie Speaks hit a solo home run in the first and Hillary Hammond lined a homer in the third inning for the Eagles.

Emily Jeffery (19-5) got the win for USC Upstate in the five-inning complete game. She allowed two hits, two runs, walked one, and struck out three. Templeton (20-6) was tagged with the loss for Carson- Newman.

USC Upstate will face the winner of Columbus State/Coker tomorrow night at 7 PM and Carson-Newman faces the loser of CSU/Coker at 1:30 PM, both games at South Commons Stadium.