Spartanburg, S.C. – The Youngstown State softball team dropped a pair of contests on Friday at the Wings, Etc. Classic, at the Cyrill Softball Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.

In the opener, YSU lost a 9-1 decision to West Georgia before losing the nightcap, 9-7, to the host Spartans.

Upstate jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on sacrifice fly, but the Penguins knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the second. Ayla Ray laced a double down the left-field line, and Bella Meyer brought her home with a run-scoring single of the middle.

The Spartans regained a 4-1 lead after a two-run home run by Mackenzie Bernal and a two-out run-scoring single by Taliyah Thomas in the bottom half of the frame.

Littler led off the top of the third with a single and advance to third on Wilkerson's double down the right-field line. Emma Gilkerson's sacrifice fly to right field plated Littler and cut the Spartans lead in half, 4-2. Tai Turner extended the inning with a 10-pitch walk and Kennedy delivered a run-scoring single up the middle to score pinch-runner Tatum Werley to make it a one-run game, 4-3, through two-and-half innings.

Upstate scored four times in the fourth inning, but in the fifth, the Guins put together a rally thanks to the long ball.

Gilkerson led off the inning with a home run to left center and following a Turner singles, Kennedy Dean launched a two-run shot to make it a 9-6 contest. After a pitching change, Ayla Ray belted a solo shot to cut the deficit to two.

The Guins banged out 13 hits, but left 10 runners on base while Upstate just stranded a pair.

In the opener, the Penguins were limited to just four hits against the Wolves.

Tai Turner, Macy Littler, Dean, and Lydia Wilkerson each collected base hits, and Turner drove in Littler with the Penguins' lone run in the bottom of the fourth.

West Georgia scored six runs in the top of the second to take a commanding 6-0 lead and added two in the top of the fourth and another in the fifth to invoke the eight-run mercy rule.

Youngstown State will face West Georgia and USC Upstate, Saturday, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.