COLUMBUS, Ga. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team blasted six home runs — including a school-record three from junior shortstop Haley Brown — but lost a slugfest, 13-8 to Thomas on Sunday in the Gold consolation bracket at the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Challenge at South Commons Softball Complex.

Brown homered in her first three at-bats, Maddie Byrd added two home runs and Mariaha Sanborn had a two-run blast among her three hits for USCB (8-3). 

Brown's solo shot and Sanborn's two-run homer in the first inning staked the Sand Sharks to a 3-0 lead, but Thomas answered with two in the bottom of the inning. Brown added a two-run blast in the second to make it 5-2, but the Night Hawks posted a seven-run third against two USCB relievers to take control.

Brown and Byrd hit back-to-back homers in the fourth to cut the deficit to 9-7, but Thomas answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Byrd went deep again in the sixth, but the Night Hawks scored twice in the bottom of the frame and USCB couldn't rally in the seventh.

Brown broke the school record of two homers in a game, which had been done six times, most recently in 2013. 

Next up for the Sand Sharks is the Gulf Coast Invitational beginning Friday in Gulf Shores, Ala. USCB will play twice on the opening day of the tournament, facing top-ranked and defending NAIA national champion Auburn-Montgomery at 11 a.m. and Central Methodist at 3 p.m.