CLERMONT, Fla. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team went undefeated on the first day of the NAIA Southern Challenge on Friday, rallying for a 5-3 win over Mobile (Ala.) and thumping Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 14-1 in five innings at the National Training Center. 

Senior Alexandria Simmons plated the go-ahead runs against the Rams with a two-run double in the sixth inning and Mariaha Sanborn went 4-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and four runs scored to lead the offensive outburst against the Bears. 

USCB took a 1-0 lead against Mobile on Taylor Triplett's RBI double in the first inning, but the Sand Sharks couldn't muster any more run support behind starter Ashlie Layman, who left in the fifth with USCB trailing 3-1. Kristy Cook came on in relief and worked out of a jam, setting the stage for a rally. 

Three Mobile errors in the fifth inning helped USCB tie it at 3, and Simmons ripped a two-out, two-run double to left to break the deadlock in the sixth. Cook struck out four and allowed two hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief for the win. 

Cook (3-0) and Caitlin Campbell combined on a two-hitter against Truett-McConnell — racking up nine strikeouts between them — but their dominant effort was overshadowed by USCB's bats. Seven of the Sand Sharks' nine starters had at least one RBI, and Sanborn and Triplett (3-for-4, HR, 3 runs) had huge games at the plate. Shelby Zipperer and Chelsey Blasingame each added two hits and an RBI as USCB ripped 16 hits.

The Sand Sharks (7-1) have now won five straight games at the NTC, the same site where they claimed the Sun Conference Tournament title last May. They will continue the tournament Saturday, facing Brewton-Parker (Ga.) at 11 a.m. and Thomas (Ga.) at 1:15 p.m.