CLERMONT, Fla. – The USCB softball team suffered a tough 3-2 loss to Ave Maria on Thursday in its opening game in the Sun Conference Softball Championship at Legends Way Ballfields.

The Sand Sharks left 11 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded three times in the first four innings, and were hurt by three errors. 

Sadie Mosher (17-6) outdueled Abby Pac (16-13) for the win, allowing two runs and seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and five walks. Pac struck out nine and limited the Gyrenes to three runs (two earned) and seven hits over six frames.

USCB opened the scoring on Natassja Hatcher's sacrifice fly in the first but couldn't push across any more runs, and Deanna Stirtzinger laced a two-run triple in the bottom of the inning to put the Gyrenes on top.

The Sand Sharks tied it on Emma Erwin's bases-loaded walk in the third but again left three runners on, and Ave Maria again answered in the bottom of the inning when Alyssa Colding singled and scored the eventual winning run on a three-base throwing error.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Natassja Hatcher (2-for-2, sacrifice fly, double, walk, RBI)

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The Sand Sharks will play an elimination game at 10 a.m. against No. 2 seed Southeastern and will need to win three games Friday to advance to Saturday's championship game.