WALESKA, Ga. - Behind 14 runs, 17 hits and no runs allowed on Friday, USCB softball opened the RU Invite with a pair of shutout wins over Freed-Hardeman and Reinhardt, 8-0 and 6-0, at Ken White Softball Field.

INSIDE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Emily Martin - 2-for-2, two doubles, three RBIs

Haley Hawkins - 2-for-2, one RBI, two runs

Kaleigh Furbush - 2-for-2, double

Taylor Boykin - 1-for-2, walk, two runs

Amber Locasto - 1-for-3, two RBIs, one run

Maria Molloseau - five innings, win, four hits, no runs, six strikeouts, one walk

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

After facing four batters in the top of the first, USCB's offense exploded for three runs in the home half of the frame. Boykin started the rally with a walk, and she moved to second on Rachel Frankhouser's groundout. Hawkins connected with a single to left center to put runners at the corners. Locasto and Martin made it hurt, as the two Sand Sharks connected with back-to-back hits to give USCB the early 3-0 lead.

After a quiet second frame, USCB tacked on one run in the bottom of the third. Hawkins led off with an infield single, and she moved to second on the play. Two batters later, Martin cracked yet another double, which put two Sand Sharks in scoring position. Kaitlyn O'Hearn plated Hawkins from third on a sacrifice fly to push the lead to four, 4-0.

Freed-Hardeman found some success in the top of the fourth but couldn't plate runs. The Lions picked up a pair of hits in the inning, but they were left stranded.

USCB put the game out of hand in the bottom of the fourth when the Sand Sharks sent up eight batters in the inning. Leah Stegall singled to the pitcher to score Allison Harless, and Hawkins drew a bases-loaded walk to move the lead to 6-0. Locasto and Martin capped off the scoring with run-scoring at-bats to give USCB the run-rule victory over the Lions.

INSIDE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Rachel Catt - seven innings, win, three hits, no runs, five strikeouts

Furbush - 2-for-4, one RBI

Locasto and Martin - one hit, one RBI, one run each

O'Hearn - 1-for-2, double, one RBI

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

USCB's offense struck early with a run in the the first over Reinhardt. Boykin started the rally with a walk and a stolen base. The senior outfield moved to third on Frankhouser's groundout. Hawkins also drew a walk, and Locasto struck a double to center, which plated Boykin easily. The Sand Sharks had two runners in scoring position with one out but couldn't plate more runs. 

After a scoreless second inning for both clubs, the Sand Sharks' offense erupted for four runs to take a commanding lead over host school RU. After two quick outs, Hawkins and Locasto started the rally with back-to-back walks. Martin made it hurt with a RBI single. With a pair of Sand Sharks in scoring position, the Eagle pitcher tossed a wild pitch, which scored Locasto from third and pushed the lead to 3-0. O'Hearn followed with a ringing double, as Martin touched home to take a four-run lead. Hoolie Garcia pinch ran for O'Hearn, and Furbush dropped a RBI single to plate Garcia from second base.

Reinhardt and USCB had runners on base in three of the next four half innings, but neither team capitalized.

The Sand Sharks added on an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Jodi Hatcher connected with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to six.

RU tried to mount a rally in the seventh, but the lone base runner was left stranded and gave USCB the win. 

RECORDS UPDATE

No. 20 USCB - 10-1 overall

Freed-Hardeman - 0-1 overall

Reinhardt - 7-3

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB will play Reinhardt again on Feb. 22 as well as Midway at the RU Invite. First pitch against the Eagles is now scheduled for 4 p.m., while the contest with Midway will follow at 6 p.m. in Waleska, Ga.