USC Upstate Softball will host Presbyterian College for the final weekend series in Big South play, according to an April 30 announcement. The games will take place at Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium and mark the last regular season home series for five senior players.
This matchup is important as both teams are vying for seeding positions ahead of the 2026 Big South Softball Championships. USC Upstate has already secured a spot in the tournament and currently holds second place in conference standings. A sweep or series win would help them maintain their position, while Presbyterian could move up with strong results.
The Spartans (31-20; 10-5 Big South) will also be hosting this year’s championship event. Presbyterian (19-28; 7-8 Big South) is looking to secure its first tournament appearance since 2022 if it performs well during this weekend’s games. Friday’s doubleheader will be streamed live on ESPN+, while Saturday’s game will feature live stats only.
Senior Day celebrations are planned after Game Three on Saturday, May 2, when Ella Christopher, Maddie Drerup, Carson Shaw, Amie Johnson and Taliyah Thomas will be recognized for their contributions to the team. In recent matchups between these teams, USC Upstate leads the all-time series with a record of 21 wins and three losses.
Key players include redshirt freshman catcher Laney Jennings for USC Upstate—who has posted a .300 batting average with notable offensive and defensive contributions—and freshman infielder Hali Duke for Presbyterian, who leads her team with a .404 batting average and several multi-hit performances.
After concluding regular season play this weekend, USC Upstate will await official seeding announcements from the Big South Conference as they prepare to host the championship tournament from May 6-9.
