Thursday, May 13, 2010

DeLAND, Fla. – Jessica Cross of No. 3 Kennesaw State posted a 1-0 shutout of No. 4 USC Upstate Thursday morning in the opening round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Softball Championship, hosted by Stetson University at Patricia Wilson Field.

Cross allowed just two hits, and allowed no walks in the early morning contest, while fanning four Spartan batters. Freshman Hannah Graham also contributed to the winning effort as the Dacula, Ga. native scored the game's only run in the fifth inning.

For the Spartans, junior hurler Morgan Childers limited the Owls to four hits, while commiting no errors and striking out seven. In her final collegiate game for USC Upstate, senior Crislyn Chewning tallied two hits in three at bats.

Kennesaw State will face the winner of No. 2 Stetson/No. 5 Jacksonville at 8 p.m., while USC Upstate has a matchup with the loser of No. 1 Lipscomb/No. 6 Campbell at 6 p.m.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.