HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – The USCB softball team gave its postseason hopes a huge boost Friday, earning a 2-1 win over No. 24 Warner in the opener of a three-game Sun Conference series. 

The Sand Sharks increased their lead over Keiser to two games in the race for the fifth and final spot in the Sun Conference Tournament. USCB can clinch a berth with one win or one Seahawks loss tomorrow. 

Abby Pac outdueled Chelsie Valentine in a matchup of the teams' aces, as Pac allowed one unearned run and four hits over seven innings with four strikeouts. Valentine struck out eight over six innings, giving up two runs and five hits. 

The Royals had runners at second and third with no outs in the third but managed only one run, and they had runners and second and third with one out in the fourth but came up empty. 

The Sand Sharks tied it in the fourth on Natassja Hatcher's sacrifice fly, and back-to-back singles by Taylor Boykin and Marissa Becker leading off the sixth set up Haley Hawkins' go-ahead RBI single. 

Pac retired the side in order in the seventh and sat down 11 of the last 12 batters she faced. 

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

FIN FACTS

Becker went 2-for-3 and has 199 career hits, one shy of tying Missy Hughes and Taylor Triplett for the USCB career record. … Becker recorded her team-best 19th multi-hit game. … Pac has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 14 consecutive outings and 24 of 27 this season.

UP NEXT

The Sand Sharks will host Warner for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, and USCB will honor its four seniors in a ceremony between games.