Deland, Fla. – USC Upstate softball concluded the Stetson Invitational with an impressive 11-2 win over Florida International to not only go undefeated but to earn head coach Chris Hawkins his 1000th career win as a head coach.
The Spartans trailed by two runs going into the bottom of the third where they scored four runs to take the lead. Upstate extended its lead with one run scored in the bottom of the fourth and six runs scored in the bottom of the sixth. Hannah Houge threw 92 pitches through 5.0 innings, surrendering three hits and two runs while recording six strikeouts. Alyssa Kelly relieved Houge throwing 13 pitches in the top of the sixth two panthers on base.
Head coach Chris Hawkins made history with the win as it was his 1000th career win as a head coach. There are roughly only 41 collegiate softball coaches that can boast this honor. In his time as a head coach, Hawkins has recorded approximately 1000 wins along with 405 losses and one tie, giving him a .711 win percentage. Hawkins started as the assistant softball coach for Upstate in 1989 and was named head coach in 1993.
In his 28 complete seasons as the head coach, Hawkins has been the winningest coach in Upstate softball history. Last season, Hawkins led his team to the Big South Conference Tournament where they finished second behind Campbell. Hawkins led the Spartans to five straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2013-2017), produced ASUN champion teams six times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), and four straight appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament (2004-07). He has had a hand in 11 of Upstate's 12 40-win seasons in program history.
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 11; Florida International 2
Records: USC Upstate (18-1); Florida International (14-10)
Location: Patricia Wilson Field | Deland, Florida
How It Happened
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T3: Kayla Whitehead homered to right center to send Brooke McCann home and give FIU a two-run lead
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B3: Tiffany Domingue put Upstate on the board with a single up the middle that allowed Casey Goguts and Mady Lanoux to come home.
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B3: Peyton Darnell added to the Spartans runs with her first home run of the day to right field as she joined Domingue at home.
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B4: Celeste Delorenzo extended Upstate's lead as she reached home plate while Alanna Deal advanced to third and Sarah Price reached second with her hit through the left side.
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B6: With the bases loaded, Mady Lanoux singled to left field, advancing Price to second, Marisa Soterakis to third and Alanna Deal to home plate.
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B6: Lanoux was called out at second while Casey Goguts reached on a fielder's choice, Price advanced to third and Soterakis made the score 7-2.
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B6: Price scored off a throwing error by the Panthers' catcher while Goguts stole second.
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B6: Peyton Darnell finished the game with her second home run of the game, bringing Tiffany Domingue and Casey Goguts with her.
Notable
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Goguts, Domingue, and Darnell posted two runs each; Goguts, Domingue, Darnell, and Lanoux has two hits each.
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Darnell leads the Big South in home runs (7), runs batted in (26) and slugging percentage (.792) while Lanoux leads in batting average (.469), runs scored (20), and hits (30)
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Hannah Houge and Alyssa Kelly sit at the top of the Big South pitching board with Houge pitching 61.1 innings and Kelly pitching 60.0 innings
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Houge also leads with 85 batters struck out, 29 batters struck out looking and 11 wins
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Of the 18 Spartans who've appeared around the diamond, 14 have recorded at least two runs
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This was the third time Peyton Darnell has recorded two homeruns in one game (vs. Massachusetts 2/11/22, vs. Towson 2/13/22, vs. FIU 3/6/22)
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