HARDEEVILLE — After having to wait an extra five days to open its season, the University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team did so on a positive note Thursday, sweeping visiting St. Andrews 6-0 and 4-2 at Richard Gray Sports Complex.

Sophomore Ashlie Layman (1-0) picked up where she left off during a sensational freshman season, shutting out the Knights (0-4) in the opener. She allowed just four hits and one walk, hit a batter and struck out seven to improve to 12-0 in her career. 

The Sand Sharks (2-0) didn't waste any time giving Layman a lead, as Taylor Triplett's RBI single scored Sammi Shaffren for a 1-0 advantage in the first. Shelby Zipperer blasted a two-run home run to spark a four-run second, and the Knights made two errors on the same play to allow two runs to score on Shaffren's dribbler back to the pitcher. Maddie Byrd's solo homer in the third capped the scoring. 

USCB did all the damage against starter Mary Cross (0-2), but couldn't break through in the final three innings against reliever Corinne Eosso. 

Eosso (0-2) made the start in the second game and kept the Sand Sharks off-balance with a steady diet of off-speed pitches. The Knights plated an unearned run in the first only to allow USCB to tie it when Triplett scored on a passed ball an inning later. 

Cross hit a solo blast leading off the third to put St. Andrews back on top, but the Knights managed only two more hits against junior Kristy Cook (1-0), who struck out five and allowed two runs — one earned — and two walks in a complete game. 

The Sand Sharks tied it in the bottom of the third when Alexandria Simmons reached on an error and Missy Hughes scored from second. They took the lead in a two-run fifth, as Triplett's sacrifice fly scored Shaffren with the go-ahead run and Byrd singled home Simmons for some insurance. 

Simmons and Zipperer each had three hits on the day, while Zipperer, Triplett and Byrd each drove in two runs. 

The Sand Sharks are scheduled to be back in action Saturday and Sunday at the Savannah State Lady Tiger Invitational. 

NOTES: The doubleheader marked the head coaching debut of USCB's Laura Heberling, who took over after serving as the team's assistant for the past two years. … USCB improved to 53-7 all-time at Richard Gray Sports Complex and 59-9 in games play in the Palmetto State. … The Sand Sharks improved to 19-1 all-time in February and have outscored opponents 64-6 in six games — all wins — on opening day.