HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – The USCB softball opened a big Sun Conference series with a 4-1 victory over No. 15 Southeastern on Friday at Richard Gray Sports Complex.

Abby Pac struck out nine in a four-hitter and made an early 4-0 lead stand up, and Marissa Becker went 3-for-4 and scored a run as the Sand Sharks took the opener of the three-game series. 

USCB scored all four of its runs in the first inning, getting to reigning Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year Lindsie Scholwinski early. Alexa Moore beat out an infield single with two outs to plate the first run, Natassja Hatcher followed with an RBI single to center, and Brittany Olean dumped a two-run double down the left-field line.

The Fire's only run came in the fourth, when Cheyenne Blaha singled for the first hit of the day against Pac, stole second and scored on Brandee Pietrzak's double to left-center.

Southeastern threatened again in the fifth with runners at second and third with one out, but Pac picked up a strikeout and induced a grounder to get out of the jam. Pac struck out the side following a leadoff single in the sixth and retired the Fire in order in the seventh.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Abby Pac (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K)

FIN FACTS

USCB improved to 4-7 against current top-25 teams with wins over No. 2 William Carey, No. 6 Campbellsville, No. 15 Southeastern, and No. 24 Rio Grande. … Kayla Boyle went 0-for-3, snapping her program-record 20-game hitting streak. … Pac surpassed 200 career strikeouts and has 208 in her two seasons at USCB. … Pac has allowed more than two earned runs only three times in 21 outings this season. … Becker stole two bases, giving her 14 this season and 47 in her career, most in program history.

UP NEXT

The series concludes with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.