MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – The USCB softball team passed its final test before beginning Sun Conference play this weekend, as the Sand Sharks swept a doubleheader at Brewton-Parker on Wednesday, winning 2-1 and 14-4.
The Sand Sharks repeatedly got out of jams in the first game – including one with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh inning – to hold on in the opener. Ashlie Layman earned the win, scattering 11 hits and five walks over a complete game while striking out six and allowing one unearned run.
USCB grabbed an early lead when Haley Brown led off the game with a double and scored on Emily Pauley's RBI single, and Brodie McGregor's RBI single in the fifth made it 2-0.
A pair of Sand Shark errors allowed the Barons to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth, but Layman recorded a strikeout and a flyout to strand the tying run at third. Layman again left the tying run at third in the sixth, and Brewton-Parker loaded the bases with three straight singles to start the seventh before Layman retired three straight to end the game.
Pauley went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Whitley Martin was 3-for-4, McGregor was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Brown and Missy Hughes added two hits apiece for USCB.
The Sand Sharks came through with plenty of clutch hits in the second game, racking up 16 hits. Becker went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs, Hughes was 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, and McGregor was 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs. Brown again sparked the offense in the leadoff spot, going 2-for-2 with two walks, three runs and two RBIs.
USCB built a 5-0 lead before the Barons answered with four in the bottom of the fourth. The Sand Sharks broke it open again with six runs in the fifth, sending 11 batters to the plate, and USCB tacked on three more in the sixth to invoke the eight-run mercy rule.
Abby Pac picked up the win, striking out eight and allowing four runs on nine hits with no walks in a six-inning complete game.
The Sand Sharks (13-14) open Sun Conference play this weekend, hosting Keiser on Saturday and St. Thomas on Sunday. Both doubleheaders begin at 1 p.m.