HARDEEVILLE — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team suffered its first defeat in Sun Conference play Friday, as the 16th-ranked Sand Sharks split a doubleheader with Thomas (Ga.) at Richard Gray Sports Complex.

The Sand Sharks won the opener 8-3 behind a strong pitching performance from Kristy Cook and a five-RBI game from Shelby Zipperer, but the Night Hawks got an outstanding effort from pitcher Aimee Johnson to win the second game 7-2 and salvage a split.

USCB (23-3, 3-1 TSC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game on Mariaha Sanborn's solo homer in the second and a four-run third that featured Taylor Triplett's RBI double and Zipperer's three-run double down the left-field line. 

Cook (11-0) carried a perfect game two outs into the fifth before Amber Steadham's single to left. Johnson then drew a walk and Natalie Manning hit a three-run homer to get the Night Hawks (14-14, 2-2) within 5-3. 

USCB answered with three in the fifth on Zipperer's two-run single and Sanborn's RBI single, and Cook nailed down the win with eight strikeouts in a two-hitter.

Thomas' bats came to life in the second game, as the Night Hawks rapped 12 hits and took advantage of three USCB errors. Johnson held USCB to two runs — one earned — on four hits in a complete game.

The Sand Sharks travel to Columbia College for a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Wednesday, then host conference doubleheaders against Webber International and Embry-Riddle at 1 p.m. on April 6 and 7.