HARDEEVILLE – The five seniors on the USCB softball team have seen their share of thrilling victories, and they helped author another one to open their final weekend of home games Saturday at Richard Gray Sports Complex.
After being honored in a pregame ceremony on Senior Day, Whitley Martin and Missy Hughes set the table for a seventh-inning rally as USCB won game one against visiting Keiser 7-6, and the Sand Sharks won the finale 6-2 to take over third place in the Sun Conference standings.
Senior Haley Brown led off the opener with a single to begin a four-run first inning that Martin capped with a two-run double down the right-field line. Keiser pitcher Riley Caylor kept the Seahawks in it, though, retiring 12 straight Sand Sharks as Keiser chipped away and eventually took the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh inning.
The Sand Sharks finally solved Caylor in the bottom of the frame, as Martin drew a leadoff walk and wound up at third when her hustle forced a hurried throw to second on Hughes' grounder. Bailey Craven followed with a line drive up the middle for an RBI single, and Hughes scored on a wild pitch to tie it. Freshman Kayla Boyle then lifted a popup to shallow right field that second baseman Cassidy Miller caught with her back to the infield, and Craven tagged from third and slid just under the tag for the winning run.
The rally made a winner of senior pitcher Ashlie Layman (14-6), who allowed six runs – three earned – on nine hits and struck out nine in a complete game.
The Sand Sharks needed another rally in the finale, as Keiser struck first with two runs in the third. USCB cut into the lead on Taylor Boyett's sacrifice fly in the fourth and tied it on Marissa Becker's RBI groundout in the fifth before the seniors again sparked a go-ahead rally in the sixth.
Martin followed Boyett's one-out double with a bunt single and stole second before Hughes lined a two-run single off pitcher Allison Williams' foot to give the Sand Sharks their first lead. Boyle gave USCB some insurance with a two-run double later in the inning.
Freshman Abby Pac (8-8) picked up the win with three scoreless innings in relief of Naomi Catt, who limited the Seahawks to two runs and six hits over four innings.
The Sand Sharks (27-20, 7-5 TSC) wrap up the regular season Sunday with a doubleheader against St. Thomas beginning at noon. USCB will observe Protect & Serve Day, honoring military, veterans and first responders.
