HARDEEVILLE, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team suffered its first loss of the season but rebounded to win the second game to split a doubleheader with visiting Columbia College on Monday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. 

The Sand Sharks clawed back from a four-run deficit to get the tying run into scoring position before falling 5-4 in the opener, but they bounced back for a 9-5 win in the nightcap to match last year's 9-1 mark through the first 10 games of the season.

The Fighting Koalas opened a 5-1 lead in the opener with a pair of  runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth before USCB stormed back. Junior second baseman Katie Rietkovich and freshman catcher Whitley Martin each hit solo home runs as the Sand Sharks pulled within 5-4, and Rietkovich was at second base representing the tying run when Brittany Barr got Shelby Zipperer to fly out to center field to end the game.

Barr earned the save in relief of Erin Walker, who allowed four runs on five hits over six-plus innings and struck out five. Sophomore Caitlin Campbell (3-1) took the tough-luck loss for USCB, allowing three runs — one earned — on five hits over five innings. 

USCB's bats stayed hot in the second game, as the Sand Sharks used a pair of three-run innings to break it open. Freshman Missy Hughes' RBI triple sparked the three-run fourth, and Zipperer and Mariaha Sanborn each drew bases-loaded walks later in the frame. C.J. Browder, Taylor Triplett and Hughes each had RBI singles in the three-run sixth. 

That was plenty of support for sophomore Kristy Cook (3-0), who allowed five runs — four earned — on seven hits over 6 1-3 innings for the win. She struck out six. Senior Becca Hewitt came on to record the final two outs to preserve the victory.

Maddie Byrd went 3-for-4 and scored three runs for USCB in the nightcap.

The Sand Sharks are back in action Tuesday, facing Point (Ga.) for two games beginning at 4 p.m. to open the Smash Hit Softball Classic. 

GAME NOTEBOOK: USCB leads the all-time series 3-2. … The Sand Sharks are now 33-3 all-time at Richard Gray Sports Complex, including a 7-1 mark this season. … Rietkovich's home run in the first game gave her homers in three consecutive contests. That streak was snapped in Game 2. … Martin's home run — the first of her career — was a shot to dead center.