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USC Upstate defeats Winthrop 7-4 to secure 2nd straight Big South Softball Tournament Title

CLINTON, S.C. (USC Upstate SID) – USC Upstate Softball came into Saturday morning with a goal to get the job done with their eyes on claiming the trophy in the 2025 Big South Softball Championship game against No. 4 seed, Winthrop University. From a storytelling perspective, the stage was set for a 2024 Big South Conference Tournament rematch with Upstate needing one win and Winthrop needing two wins. USC Upstate swept their way through the 2025 Big South Softball Championships with a 7-4 victory over Winthrop to punch their ticket to NCAA Regionals. The Spartans came in hot with a lead off double from Denver Lauer and Alanna Deal being walked to first. Through the chilly winds, the bats were hot as Sophia Kardatzke drove in the first run with an RBI single. With zero outs still on the board, Carson Shaw followed with a hit past the infield with Kardatzke and Lauer sprinting home increasing Upstate's lead to scoring continued with Abigail Pippen reaching first with a bunt that resulted in a fielding error to get her on base safely while Carson Shaw made her way to home plate for the fourth run. With a base hit from Abby Polk and a sacrifice bunt from Emily Stern, a groundout to first took the attention away from Pippen advancing home. The hot inning added a sixth run was driven in with another fielding error on Winthrop and Abby Polk sprinting home for a 6-0 Drerup entered the circle focused as ever striking out a batter while keeping the Eagles scoreless through two innings. Upstate entered the bottom of the third inning motivated to continue their offensive firepower which displayed with Liza Simmerson knocking a two-out double to left field driving in another run for a 7-1 lead. The Eagles began to push for a late rally with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth and two hits in the of the seventh resulting in a groundout that advanced a run Winthrop looked for one last opportunity down three runs, a foul ball to left field was caught by Amie Johnson for the final out sealing the deal as the 2025 Conference Tournament Champions. With the win over Winthrop to secure another conference championship, Upstate Softball punched their ticket with an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. Following the game, Emily Stern, Alanna Deal, Carson Shaw, and Maddie Drerup were named to the All-Tournament Team. With Maddie Drerup gaining two wins in the circle through the 2025 Big South Softball Conference Championships against Longwood and Winthrop, Drerup was named the tournament MVP. ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMMaddie Drerup, USC Upstate (MVP)Alanna Deal, USC UpstateCarson Shaw, USC UpstateEmily Stern, USC UpstateMegan Powell, WinthropLonna Addison, WinthropEmma Jackson, WinthropRachel Smith, RadfordMorgan Cooper, RadfordAvery Drake, LongwoodMaryanna Guy, LongwoodThe Spartans have officially punched their ticket in the NCAA Regionals. Information for Regionals is scheduled to be released Sunday, May 11th at 7:00 P.M. following the NCAA Softball Selection Show. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.