Upstate Softball Falls to Ranked Opponents in Weekend Slate

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The Upstate Spartans softball team concluded a busy week at the Jane B. Moore Memorial Invite in Auburn, Alabama, with a pair of contests against #12 Virginia Tech and Auburn University. The Spartans fell to Virginia Tech in an 11-3 decision and were narrowly defeated by Auburn, 2-1.

Why it matters

Facing ranked opponents like Virginia Tech and Auburn provides valuable experience for a developing team like Upstate. While both games resulted in losses, the Spartans demonstrated resilience and the ability to compete with strong programs, which could prove beneficial as the season progresses.

The details

In the game against Virginia Tech, Upstate started strong with Taliyah Thomas reaching base on a leadoff hit and scoring on an RBI single by Laney Jennings. However, the Hokies responded with two runs in the bottom of the first and added six more over the next two innings, building a 10-1 lead. The Spartans rallied in the top of the third as Thomas recorded her second hit of the game, followed by Alyssa Davenport's first collegiate home run, narrowing the gap to 10-3. But Virginia Tech ended the game via the run rule with an RBI double, securing an 11-3 victory. In the game against Auburn, freshman Anna Dickinson made her first collegiate start in the circle. Auburn broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly. Upstate answered in the fourth inning when Taliyah Thomas reached base and stole second, setting up an RBI single by Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan to tie the game. Auburn regained the lead in the bottom of the inning with an infield fly. Despite loading the bases in a late attempt to tie the game, with Thomas and Abby Polk both stealing bases, the Spartans were unable to score, as Auburn closed out the game with two strikeouts for a 2-1 win.

• The Upstate Spartans softball team concluded a busy week at the Jane B. Moore Memorial Invite in Auburn, Alabama, on March 2, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Upstate will continue play with a four-game slate in Clearwater, Florida, battling Central Michigan in a neutral site. The Spartans will play a doubleheader on Friday, March 6, at 11:00 A.M. And 1:00 P.M. EST, followed by two more games on Sunday at the same times.