GULF SHORES, Ala. – The USCB softball team dropped its final three games at the Gulf Coast Invitational, falling to host Mobile (Ala.) to conclude pool play Saturday morning before losing to Culver-Stockton (Mo.) and Mobile in Silver Bracket play.

The Sand Sharks finished 1-4 in the event.

POOL PLAY – Mobile 3, USCB 0

The Sand Sharks concluded pool play with a loss to the Rams on Saturday morning, as Sydney O'Connor outdueled USCB's Abby Pac.

Pac limited the Rams to three runs (one earned) and five hits in a six-inning complete game, striking out four, but the Sand Sharks couldn't provide any run support. 

USCB didn't have a hit until Marissa Becker's single with one out in the fourth. The Sand Sharks loaded the bases with two outs in the inning before Lauren Weidig flew out to the warning track in left-center. 

Weidig doubled with one out in the seventh to put two runners in scoring position, but Kaitlyn O'Hearn was cut down at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch, helping O'Connor preserve the shutout.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Abby Pac (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)

SILVER BRACKET – Culver-Stockton 5, USCB 3

The Wildcats plated five runs in the second inning, and USCB was unable to climb out of the early hole in the opening round of Silver Bracket play. 

The Sand Sharks cut into the deficit in the third, when Bailee Barker and Haley Hawkins opened the inning with back-to-back doubles and Hawkins scored on Kayla Boyle's RBI single. 

USCB plated another run in the fifth on Weidig's bases-loaded walk, but Culver-Stockton third baseman Darby Brundage made a diving stab of Emma Erwin's line drive to turn an inning-ending double play and save at least two runs and possibly three. 

Naomi Catt pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and one walk, to keep USCB in the game.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Naomi Catt (4 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K)

SILVER BRACKET – Mobile 9, USCB 0 (5 inn.)

A disastrous third inning in which the Rams scored nine runs accounted for all the scoring in USCB's final game of the tournament. 

O'Connor struck out six and allowed four hits and a walk in shutting out the Sand Sharks for the second time in two days. 

Hawkins, Boyle, O'Hearn and Brittany Olean had hits for USCB.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Kayla Boyle (1-for-2, 2B)

UP NEXT

The Sand Sharks open Sun Conference play at Ave Maria on Friday and Saturday. The teams are scheduled to play a single game at 2 p.m. Friday and a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.