WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team opened Sun Conference play with a doubleheader sweep at Northwood on Saturday, beating the Seahawks 3-1 and 4-2 in eight innings.

Maddie Byrd hit a solo homer and added a two-run single to account for all the Sand Sharks' scoring in the opener, and Kristy Cook (9-3) struck out six in a three-hitter. 

Kendall Jumper (2-1) threw an eight-inning complete game without allowing an earned run in the finale, and Haley Brown and Shelby Zipperer each homered for No. 25 USCB. 

The Sand Sharks (14-8, 2-0 TSC) took a 1-0 lead in the opener on Byrd's solo shot in the fourth, and the senior first baseman tacked on a two-run single an inning later to make it 3-0. The Seahawks (14-12-1, 0-2) broke through with an unearned run in the sixth, but Cook retired them in order in the seventh to nail down the victory. 

Taylor Triplett and Zipperer each added two hits in Game 1 for the Sand Sharks.

Brown started the scoring in the second game with her team-leading 10th home run in the third inning, but Northwood answered with an unearned run in the third and moved ahead 2-1 with an unearned run in the fifth.

Mariaha Sanborn tied it with a two-out RBI single in the sixth, and Zipperer blasted a two-run shot to left-center in the eighth before Jumper stranded two runners in the bottom of the inning for the win.

The Sand Sharks play another Sun Conference doubleheader Sunday, taking on St. Thomas at noon.