SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Colgate softball bats weren't able to get going in a pair of losses to Towson and USC Upstate, teams that won 35-plus games a season ago, on the final day of the USC Upstate/Furman Classic.
The Tigers used a seven-run fourth inning to capture a 9-2 win over the Raiders. Colgate then fell victim to two-time defending ASUN Pitcher of the Year Lexi Shubert as the USC Upstate pitcher twirled a complete-game shutout in an 8-0 Spartan win.
After a scoreless first inning in the day's opener, Colgate was able to get on the board first in the bottom of the second. First-year
Virginia Irby sent a two-out double down the left field line before senior
Tara Grennan singled her home to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead.
Towson tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third, but then broke open the game with a seven spot in the fourth to take an 8-1 lead.
Senior
Katie Bushee was able to get a run back in the bottom of the fifth when she drilled a two-out, solo home run over the left center fence to pull the Raiders within 8-2. Junior
Kyle Griswold limited the Tigers to just one run in the final 3.2 frames, but the Raiders weren't able to put together a rally as Towson walked away with a 9-2 victory.
USC Upstate used a pair of RBI doubles to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning of the tournament finale. The Spartans added two more runs in the following frame before putting up a four spot in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead. The Raiders weren't able to get their bats going against Shubert as the Spartans claimed the 8-0 win.
BOTTOM LINES
- Towson 9, Colgate 2
- USC Upstate 8, Colgate 0 (5 innings)
WON-LOST RECORDS
- The Raiders drop to 1-3 at the conclusion of their opening weekend.
- Towson improves to 4-3, while USC Upstate moves to 8-2 on the season.
KEY RAIDER INFO
- Bushee and junior Holly Geranen led Colgate with two hits apiece in the two games combined.
- Bushee and Grennan both finished the day with one RBI.
- First-year Jordan Miller mustered Colgate's only hit against USC Upstate.
FACTS & FIGURES
- The Raiders tallied eight hits on the day, three of which were extra base hits.
- Towson pitcher Megan Dejter earned the win in the day's first game, while Shubert picked up the victory in the nightcap.
UP NEXT
- The Raiders head to Deland, Fla. next weekend for the Hatter Invitational hosted by Stetson.
- Colgate opens action against Ole Miss at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
- The Raiders will also face Stetson and USF while in Florida.
- All information on how to follow can be found at Game Central.