HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - USCB softball used early offense in game one and a walkoff sacrifice fly in game two on Saturday to sweep Columbia International, 5-2 and 7-6, and to extend its winning streak to four games at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Emily Martin - 2-for-3, double, two RBIs

Kaitlyn O'Hearn - 1-for-2, one RBI, one walk, one run

Mackenzie Freeman - 1-for-1, one RBI

Maria Molloseau - complete game (seven innings), seven hits, two runs, no walks, six strikeouts

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

USCB opened the scoring in the home half of the first with a trio of runs - all of which came with two outs. Taylor Boykin led off the inning with a walk, and after a stolen base, Rachel Frankhouser walked to put two Sand Sharks on base. Amber Locasto followed with another walk, which forced the bases loaded for USCB. One batter later, O'Hearn cracked a single down the left field line, which scored Boykin easily. Frankhouser was gunned out at home trying to score from second base. Three pitches later, Martin smacked a single, which plated two more runs and advanced the USCB lead to three, 3-0.

Neither team found offensive success until USCB added an insurance run in the fourth. Freeman came on to pinch hit for Kaleigh Furbush, and the rookie singled to right center to earn the RBI.

CIU made the game interesting in the seventh, as it totaled two runs off four hits. Shannon Patton led off the frame with a single, and after a strikeout, Kendall Parker, Kaylyn Devaney and Kaitlynn Creel all connected with hits to make it a 5-2 game. However, Molloseau stopped the bleeding with a groundout and a fly out to seal the three-run win. 

INSIDE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Bri Dunn - game-winning sacrifice fly, 1-for-3, one RBI

Jodi Hatcher - 2-for-4, one RBI

Mackenzie Freeman and Haley Hawkins - one hit and two RBIs each

Boykin - 1-for-3, two runs, one walk

Caitlin Toole - 4.2 innings, three hits, no earned runs, no walks, three strikeouts, win

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

The Rams carried over their hot bats from the late innings of game one into the early part of game two. They started the scoring in the first inning, as CIU plated two runs off the bats of Devaney and Creel. 

USCB's offense again responded with two runs in the bottom of the first, which tied the contest at 2-all. Boykin and Frankhouser led off the inning by reaching base safely, and Hawkins put the ball in play, which forced a CIU error and allowed USCB to score a run. On the next batter, Freeman grounded out and scored Frankhouser from third. 

After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, the Rams took advantage by retaking the lead, 5-2, in the top of the third. Creel added another run-scoring hit with one out, and Kayla Washington scored on a wild pitch. To end the scoring in the frame, Heaven Zamora singled through the left side to plate Parker. 

The Sand Sharks retaliated in the bottom of the fourth with a four-run inning and allowed them to take the lead, 6-5. Dunn led off with a double, and Hoolie Garcia put two runners on base with a five-pitch walk. Boykin put up a four-pitch walk and forced the bases loaded. After a fielder's choice, Hawkins smacked a two-run single to right, which made the deficit just one run. A batter later, Freeman again totaled a run-scoring hit, as she plated Frankhouser from third base. Hatcher rounded out the offense with the go-ahead, run-scoring single to right center.

CIU's offense didn't cave though, as it tied the game again in the sixth with a lone run. 

With the game tied at 6-6, USCB started the rally in the seventh inning with a Martin pinch-hit single. Locasto roped a single to third, which put runners at the corners for the Sand Sharks. Emily Phillips came in to pinch run for Martin, and Dunn plated the speedster on a sacrifice fly to left field. The run sealed the win and pushed USCB's win streak to four straight. 

RECORDS UPDATE

No. 20 USCB - 4-0

Columbia International - 2-4

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks will make the quick turnaround, as they will host St. Andrews at Richard Gray Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 9. The doubleheader will commence at 1 p.m. in Hardeeville.