WALESKA, Ga. - After going undefeated on the opening day of the RU Invite, USCB softball dropped a pair of contests on Saturday, 11-4 and 2-0, to Reinhardt and Midway at Ken White Softball Field.
INSIDE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Emily Martin - 1-for-2, three-run home run, four RBIs, one run
Taylor Boykin - 2-for-4, two runs, one stolen base
Rachel Frankhouser and Mackenzie Freeman - one hit each
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
USCB's offense picked up where it left off in the first inning, as it jumped out to a three-run lead. Boykin started the inning with a bunt hit, and she moved to second on a stolen base. Frankhouser walked to put two Sand Sharks on base. After a sacrifice bunt and a popout, Martin uncorked USCB's first home run of the year to stake USCB to a 3-0 advantage.
After exchanging runs in the bottom of the second and top of the third, Reinhardt scored two runs in the third and a run in the fourth to knot the game at 4-4.
The Sand Sharks' offense struggled from the fourth to sixth innings, as it didn't connect with a hit.
Reinhardt took advantage with seven runs on seven hits to take the 11-4 lead in the bottom of the six.
Freeman tried to start a two-out rally in the top of the seventh, but USCB couldn't rally late, as it fell to the Eagles.
INSIDE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Maria Molloseau - six innings, two runs, five strikeouts
Boykin, Martin and Jodi Hatcher - 1-for-3 each
Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-1
Bri Dunn - 1-for-2
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
USCB tried to start first-inning magic in the nightcap of the doubleheader, but it was held scoreless in the inning. Boykin started the frame with a single to short, and due to a throwing error, the senior outfielder moved into scoring position with no outs. After a popout, Haley Hawkins reached safely on a Midway error. Despite having two runners on base with one out, the next two Sand Sharks went down in order to leave Boykin and Hawkins stranded.
Midway tried to open the scoring in the bottom of the first with a pair of hits. Molloseau pitched around the hits and held the Eagles scoreless.
Hatcher tried to start a rally in the top of the second, as she smacked a single between the first and second baseman. Hoolie Garcia and Hatcher traded places on first following a fielder's choice, but the next two Sand Sharks couldn't muster hits.
In the bottom of the sixth, Midway eventually broke the scoreless tie with a pair of runs to take a two-run lead. Madison Ludwig and Baylee Woods connected with run-scoring hits for the Eagles to give them the lead.
USCB again tried to mount a comeback. Ashlyn Alte reached base with two outs via an infield hit, but USCB grounded out to end the game, 2-0.
RECORDS UPDATE
No. 20 USCB - 11-3 overall
RV Reinhardt - 9-3
Midway - 3-4
WHAT'S NEXT?
USCB will conclude the Reinhardt Invite on Sunday, as it will play two more games. The Sand Sharks will open the day with a 10 a.m. contest versus No. 13 Campbellsville. USCB and Midway then return to the diamond at noon for a rematch to wrap up the RU Invite.
