Hoosiers Shut Out by USC Upstate, 5-0

Sunday, March 4

Spartanburg, S.C.

12:00 PM ET

Indiana University

3-15

(RV) USC Upstate

18-0

Indiana

USC Upstate

3/4/2018 3:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Indiana Softball fell in the final game of the Wings Etc. Classic to undefeated USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon, 5-0.

The Hoosiers saw a pair of hits from senior Rebecca Blitz, along with one each from sophomore Gabbi Jenkins, freshman Maddie Westmoreland and senior Aimilia McDonough. But the Indiana bats battled all day against USC Upstate pitcher Christina Bickerstaff, who tossed a complete game and struck out nine while surrendering just one walk.

After a pair of walks put two on in the opening frame, junior pitcher Tara Trainer came in to the ballgame for Indiana to relieve sophomore Emily Goodin. A single by Logan Morris loaded the bags before a walk to Brittany Case brought in the first Upstate run. A grounder back to Trainer in the circle for the final out limited the damage as the bases were left packed.

USC Upstate added on to the lead in the second after a walk and stolen bag by Ansley Gilstrap set things up for Kristen Wright, who sent an RBI single through the left side to make it 2-0.

For the first time in the game, the Hoosiers put two runners on the basepaths in the fourth on a single by Blitz and a walk to senior Rachel O'Malley. But, both were left stranded on a strikeout from Bickerstaff.

Following Wright's single in the second, six straight Spartans went down in order until a pair of two-out singles and a walk loaded the bases for Upstate in the fourth. Morris was then hit by a pitch to bring in Gilstrap and push the lead to 3-0.

Senior pitcher Emily Kirk entered in the fifth, but back-to-back singles to start the frame brought in Case before a sacrifice fly plated Kendsey Chappelear to push the lead to 5-0.

Jenkins led off the sixth with the first Hoosier extra base hit of the day as she doubled to centerfield. Blitz then put runners on the corners on an infield single to short before taking second on passed ball with one out. However, a groundout and strikeout stranded both runners.

"It's about staying the course with this group," said Stanton. "I'm very pleased with how they showed up today. After a long weekend, it's tough to be able to come out here and grind. The score wouldn't reflect it but twice in this ballgame we have runners in scoring position and were one pitch, one swing of the bat away from making this a competitive game."

Up next, the Hoosiers play in their final road tournament of the season as they travel to Norman, Okla. There, Indiana will play a single game against the two-time defending national champion Sooners, a single contest with South Carolina and a pair of games against Illinois State.