HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - In its final tuneup before conference action, the USCB softball team won the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, 4-2, to earn a split over Brewton-Parker at Richard Gray Stadium. Brewton-Parker claimed the first game on Saturday, 4-1.

INSIDE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Haley Hawkins - 2-for-3, one RBI

Taylor Boykin - 1-for-3, one run

Amber Locasto - 0-for-1, three walks

Mackenzie Freeman - 1-for-1, one walk

Maria Molloseau - seven innings, seven hits, three earned runs, two walks, career-high nine strikeouts

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

After a scoreless first inning, Brewton-Parker opened the scoring in the second, as Victoria Winters knocked a leadoff homer to give BPC the 1-0 lead. 

Brewton-Parker was able to double its advantage, 2-0, in the top of the third, when Morgan Parris collected a two-out, run-scoring hit.

The Sand Shark offense cut the deficit in half and threatened to take the lead in the home half of the third, as it totaled three hits in the frame. Freeman started the inning with a walk, and Boykin and Rachel Frankhouser laid down back-to-back bunt hits to force the bases loaded. After an out, Hawkins dropped a single to left to make it a 2-1 contest. 

BPC retaliated in the next inning when it plated an unearned run to regain the two-run lead, 3-1. 

USCB found base runners in each of the next three innings but couldn't score, as it stranded five players on the base paths in that span. 

In the top of the seventh, the Barons added an insurance run off Madison Whipkey's RBI single.

The Sand Sharks nearly mounted a comeback, as Locasto and Hawkins reached base safely to start the inning. However, the inning and game ended with two Sand Sharks left on base in the three-run defeat.

INSIDE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Boykin - 2-for-3, one run, one walk

Locasto - 1-for-3, two RBIs

Emily Martin - 1-for-3, double, one run

Bri Dunn - four innings, four hits, two runs, win

Sloan Ducey - three innings, no runs, not hits, no walks, five strikeouts, save

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

The first two innings went quickly for both teams, as neither squad plated a run. BPC had some success in the top of the second, but it left a pair of Barons on base in the frame.

The Barons did score in the top of the third when they plated a pair of runs in the inning. Mackenzie Tripp collected a RBI single, while Parris plated a teammate on a sac fly. 

The Sand Sharks quickly erased the deficit in the home half of the third, when they scored three runs off four hits and an error. Freeman started the frame by reaching base on an error, and Hoolie Garica followed with a single to put two runners on base. After a groundout, Boykin collected another bunt single to force the bases loaded. Savanna Shelton came in to pinch hit, and she plated Freeman to make it a 2-1 game. With two outs, Locasto smoked a two-RBI single up the middle to give USCB its first lead of the day, 3-2. 

An inning later, USCB added an insurance run when Hawkins plated Martin after her leadoff double to center.

After being staked to a 4-2 lead, Ducey came in relief of Dunn, and the sophomore cruised through the rest of the game, as she went 1-2-3 for the final three innings. She struck out five Barons en route to her first save of the year. 

RECORDS UPDATE

No. 20 USCB - 12-6 overall

Brewton-Parker - 7-5 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks will take an eight-day break from the diamond to prepare for The Sun Conference action. USCB opens league play on the road when it travels to Warner on March 7 for a doubleheader in Lake Wales, Fla. The first game is scheduled for 11 a.m.