CLINTON, S.C. – On an afternoon where Kaitlyn Tucker, Jillian Hewes, Bailey Watkins, and Kara Starnes were honored on Senior Day for their immense contributions to the Presbyterian College softball program, PC was unable to scoop a win over USC Upstate in a pair of rivalry matchups (14-1 and 2-1).

The final time that the Blue Hose will compete on their home field in 2024 – going on a season-closing nine-game road span from here on – the twinbill took on vastly different themes as Game 1 favored offense while the finale trended toward D.

Along with the four traditional seniors who competed in Clinton for the last time, so too did fifth-year pitcher Jenna Greene who made her 101^st career start for the series closer.

By reaching four K's in the low-scoring curtain call, Greene became the first Presbyterian pitcher to ever reach 700 strikeouts, a number that ranks eighth in the history of the Big South.

Sweeping PC in the one-score finale, the Spartans dropped the Blue Hose to 4-8 in league affairs with six conference scuffles still awaiting.

Prior to the closing stretch, however, PC will visit NC State for a three-game set against the ACC representative. Games 1 and 2 will be played next Saturday, followed by the last on Sunday at 1:00 PM.

 
GAME ONE – USC UPSTATE (21-15, 9-2) def. PRESBYTERIAN (14-28, 4-7) – 14-1 (5 INNINGS)
 
- The Spartans produced eight runs in the opening inning, and while the Scotsmen were able to provide a score of their own in the bottom of the 1^st (an RBI-single from Mallory Fletcher that brough in Kelby Goodrum), the hole was simply too large to combat.

- Upstate tallied two runs in the 2^nd and a four-piece in the 5^th, submitting the mercy rule with pitcher Maddie Drerup surrendering hits to Fletcher, Goodrum, and catcher Logan Grice.

 
GAME TWO – USC UPSTATE (22-15, 10-2) def. PRESBYTERIAN (14-29, 4-8) – 2-1
 
- The offensive mayhem by the visitors settled to a noticeable degree once Greene stepped in the circle, giving up just two runs while holding Upstate scoreless for the final three innings.

- Kendall Owens was able to put Presby on top by reaching on a Spartan error, enabling freshman Kasey Wolfe to sprint home as a result for her 13^th run of the campaign.

- Once USC Upstate broke the ice with a 3rd-inning sacrifice bunt and base hit in the 4^th, the Blue Hose were forced into a double play in the 5^th and back-to-back 1-2-3 sequences against starter Alyssa Kelly.

- Greene retired four while only walking one in her last home effort, holding Upstate to 12 fewer runs than their total in the first half of the DH.

 
UP NEXT
 
- The NC State Wolfpack will represent the last non-conference obstacle for head coach David Williams' club, facing a Raleigh-based adversary who has split the first two meetings of an Atlantic Coast Conference series versus Virginia.

- NC State held off a late rally by the Cavaliers that featured three runs in the bottom of the 7^th, clinging to a 10-9 win that will set up the rubber match tomorrow.

- The Wolfpack have garnered a 15-6 record when competing on their home turf, going head-to-head with PC for the first time ever in seven days.