AVE MARIA, Fla. – The USCB softball team began a big weekend of Sun Conference contests with a doubleheader split at Ave Maria on Saturday. 

The Sand Sharks dropped the opener against the Gyrenes 6-1 before rebounding for a 4-1 victory in the finale. 

A rough start hurt the Sand Sharks in game one, as Ave Maria plated four runs in the first and two in the second to build an insurmountable lead. Haley Brown and Whitley Martin recorded the only hits for USCB, while Ashlie Layman was charged with the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) and seven hits over six innings. 

USCB got the bats going early in the second game, as Alexa Moore opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first, Marissa Becker added an RBi single in the second, and Brodie McGregor and Bailey Craven each drove in runs in the third for a 4-0 lead. 

Naomi Catt (3-3) turned in a strong pitching performance for the win, limiting the Gyrenes to one run and nine hits in a complete game. 

Martin, Craven, Kayle Boyle and Taylor Boyett each had two hits for the Sand Sharks. 

USCB (24-19, 4-4 TSC) sits in fourth place in the Sun Conference standings heading into a doubleheader at second-place Webber International at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Sand Sharks are two games behind the Warriors in the standings.