GULF SHORES, Ala. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team made history Friday, becoming the first Sand Shark team to knock off a top-ranked opponent with a 5-3 win over defending national champion Auburn-Montgomery at the Gulf Coast Invitational.

The 24th-ranked Sand Sharks rallied for two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to beat the Warhawks before losing their second game of the day, 8-1 to No. 16 Central Methodist. 

Kristy Cook (6-0) pitched a complete game against AUM, allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits, and Mariaha Sanborn delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning. 

USCB trailed 3-1 before pinch-hitter Taylor Triplett's grounder glanced off the AUM second baseman's glove allowing two runs to score with two outs in the sixth. Sammi Shaffren and Haley Brown then started the rally in the seventh with consecutive one-out singles before Maddie Byrd reached on an error to load the bases and Sanborn came through with a single to left-center to break the tie.

AUM got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but the Sand Sharks turned a game-ending double play to seal it. 

USCB was unable to maintain the momentum against Central Methodist, which used a six-run second inning to break it open. Haley Brown hit a leadoff home run in the sixth for USCB's only run. 

The Sand Sharks (9-4) continue pool play Saturday, facing William Penn at 9 a.m. ET and No. 11 Belhaven at 1 p.m. ET.