Upstate Softball achieved a doubleheader sweep on the second day of the Wings Etc. Classic in Spartanburg, South Carolina, defeating both Youngstown State and West Georgia.
In the first game against Youngstown State, pitcher Maddie Drerup started strong despite early pressure from the Penguins. After allowing a leadoff hit and a sacrifice bunt that put a runner in scoring position, Drerup struck out a batter and relied on right fielder Emily Stern to secure the final out of the inning. The teams remained scoreless through four innings due to solid defensive play. In the bottom of the fifth, Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan led off with an infield single, followed by Carson Shaw’s base hit. Pinch runners Cariana Stout and Georgia Preddy entered before Amie Johnson delivered a two-RBI single to left field, giving Upstate the lead. Drerup closed out the final two innings by striking out Penguin batters, securing her first shutout of the season as Upstate won 2-0.
The Spartans faced West Georgia for their second matchup of the day. West Georgia scored first with an RBI single in the opening inning. Upstate responded when Emily Stern doubled past third base and advanced on a series of plays that included taking advantage of errors by West Georgia, tying the game at one. Laney Jennings added another base hit before Bernal-Mahagan hit a two-run homer to left center field, putting Upstate ahead 3-1. In the third inning, Stern scored again following another error from West Georgia for Upstate’s fourth run. Although West Georgia narrowed the deficit after capitalizing on an Upstate throwing error in the sixth inning, Upstate maintained its lead to win 4-2.
Bernal-Mahagan was noted as “the lone Spartan to hit a homerun on day two of the Wings Etc. Classic, moving her season total to two on the season.” Freshman pitcher Laila Landrum made her first collegiate start against West Georgia and “striking out a batter and earning her first win.” Drerup’s performance against Youngstown State earned her “her first shutout of the season as the Spartans moved past Youngstown State in a day two rematch, striking out four batters and earning her fourth win of the season.”
Looking ahead, Upstate will host Harvard and Holy Cross at Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium as part of the Upstate Classic beginning Friday, Feb. 20th. The tournament will continue Saturday with games against Robert Morris and Morgan State.
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