Spartanburg, S.C. – USC Upstate scored five runs in the first inning of game one and plated nine in the opening inning of game two on its way to an 8-0, 12-1 doubleheader sweep of Furman in non-conference softball action on Wednesday at Cyrill Stadium. 
 
Game 1: USC Upstate 8, Furman 0 (5 inn.)
 
In the opening game of the day, Elle Christopher and Laila Landrum both delivered two-run singles in the bottom of the first to key a five-run inning to put the Spartans in control. The USC Upstate offense followed with single runs in each of the next three innings to force the mercy rule after five innings.
 
Pitcher Maddie Drerup (6-3) scattered two Furman hits in the complete-game shutout while fanning five batters to earn the victory. Leadoff hitter Taliyah Thomas went 2-for-3 with a home run and scored two runs. Christopher added three RBI.
 
Starter Lily O'Bryan (0-2) took the loss for the Paladins after giving up eight runs on seven hits over three-plus innings of work. She issued five bases on balls without recording a strikeout.
 
Katie Peeler and Christina McCoy notched the only safeties for the Paladins.
 
Game 2: USC Upstate 12, Furman 1 (5 inn.)
 
In the nightcap, USC Upstate exploded for nine first-inning runs to claim a 12-1 decision.
 
The Spartans sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first and scored their nine runs with the help of six hits, three walks, and a pair of Paladin errors. Christopher's two-run base hit and Thomas' bases clearing double highlighted the outburst for the Spartans.
 
USC Upstate (12-3) added a run in the second inning before Emily Stern and Thomas batted in runs in the bottom of the fourth to up the margin to 12-0. Furman pushed across a consolation run in the top of the fifth on Hope Marshburn's sacrifice fly to avoid the shutout.
 
Chloe Poteete picked up the win to improve to 4-0 in the circle. She held the Paladins to an unearned run on six hits over five innings while striking out six batters and walking one. Thomas collected three hits in four at bats and drove in four runs to power the Spartans' 12-hit performance.
 
Starter Taylor Miller (0-3) took the loss for Furman. The junior conceded seven runs on four hits and two walks while retiring just one batter. Shortstop Kate Stoltzfus registered two hits and scored Furman's lone run.
 
Furman (1-15) hosts the Paladin Invitational this weekend at Pepsi Stadium. The Paladins are in action on Friday against George Mason at 6 p.m. Admission is free. 
 
Paladin Invitational
Friday
10:30 – West Georgia vs. Seton Hall
1:00 – Winthrop vs. West Georgia
3:30 – Winthrop vs. Seton Hall
^6:00 – Furman vs. George Mason
Saturday
9:00 – Furman vs. Seton Hall
11:30 – Furman vs. West Georgia
2:00 – Seton Hall vs. Winthrop
4:30 – George Mason vs. West Georgia
7:00 – George Mason vs. Winthrop
Sunday
9:30 – Seton Hall vs. George Mason
12:00 – Furman vs. Winthrop
 
* - all times eastern
^ - ESPN+
Home Team Listed First
 
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