HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - The USCB softball team used early offense and strong pitching from Maria Molloseau in the second game to earn two wins on Sunday, 4-3 and 3-1, over St. Andrews at Richard Gray Stadium.

The doubleheader sweep in Hardeeville advances USCB's winning streak to six.

INSIDE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Taylor Boykin - 3-for-4, two RBIs, one run

Amber Locasto - 2-for-3, double, triple, two runs

Haley Hawkins and Mackenzie Freeman - one hit and one RBI each

Sloan Ducey - four innings, four hits, no runs, two strikeouts, win

Rachel Catt - two innings, no earned runs, no walks

Caitlin Toole - one inning, one run, no walks, save

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

USCB opened the scoring right out of the gate with a run in both the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. Freeman connected with a RBI single to right in the first, while Hawkins tallied a RBI on a fielder's choice with one out in the second.

Locasto started the fourth frame off with her first career triple down the right field line. After two quick outs, Boykin dropped a two-out single to plate Hawkins and advanced the lead to 3-0.

St. Andrews pulled the defect to two, as the Knights scored their first run off a throwing error with the bases loaded.

The Knights again pulled closer when they made it a one-run game in the top of the sixth. Britnei Murray grounded out to the pitcher, which plated Destiny Locklear from third base. 

USCB tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Boykin came up clutch again. After two quick outs, Bri Dunn drew a six-pitch walk to to start the rally. Hawkins reentered the game and roped a double to put two runners in scoring position. Boykin plated one run, as she connected with a single back to the pitcher and gave USCB the 4-2 lead.

St. Andrews put a scare into the Sand Sharks in the final inning when it nearly posted a come-from-behind victory. Lucy Trujillo and her sister Asucena Trujillo started the inning with back-to-back singles. After a groundout, Brennan Broadaway plated Lucy Trujillo to make it a 4-3 game and moved Asucena Trujillo up to third base. Holland reentered the game at the designated player position, and she connected with a dribbler up the first base line. The ball started in foul territory but had so much spin, the ball returned back into fair territory before passing the first base bag. Freeman, who was playing first, was smart enough to pick up the ball when it came back fair and touched first base for the out. However, Asucena Trujillo started to break for home when Freeman threw the ball back to third base. Dunn immediately redirected the ball to home, where Emily Martin tagged out Asucena Trujillo at home, which would have been the tying run. 

The unorthodox game-winning play sealed the victory for USCB, 4-3. 

INSIDE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Molloseau - complete game, seven innings, three hits, one run (unearned), no walks, three strikeouts, win

Hoolie Garcia - 2-for-3, one RBI

Rachel Frankhouser - 1-for-2, one RBI, one walk

Hatcher - 1-for-2, double, one run

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

The second contest turned out to be a low-scoring pitcher's duel, as both teams combined for just four runs and nine hits. 

USCB's big inning came in the second frame when it plated a pair of runs. Hatcher socked a leadoff double to start the inning, and two batters later, Ashlyn Alte blooped a hit into center field. Garcia put the pressure on the Knights when she forced the bases loaded with one out. Hawkins capitalized with a sacrifice fly to take the 1-0 lead, and Frankhouser followed with a beautiful bunt base hit to double the Sand Sharks' lead, 2-0.

Neither team found offensive success until the bottom fo the sixth when USCB added an insurance run. Martin reached base on a fielder's choice, and she moved to second on a wild pitch. Marti Gathings came in to pinch run, and she moved to third base on a fly out from Alte. Garcia came up clutch, when the transfer cracked a RBI single to left center. USCB tried to add on more runs but left the bases loaded. 

St. Andrews again tried to mount a comeback in the final inning and nearly did so. Broadaway started the rally with an infield single, and she later advanced to third after a wild pitch and a passed ball. Murray grounded to short, which scored the unearned run. Fortunately for USCB, Molloseau forced a groundout from Taylor Siersma, which gave the junior her third win of the season. 

RECORDS UPDATE

No. 20 USCB - 6-0

St. Andrews - 0-6

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Shark squad will only take one day of rest before returning to the diamond to conclude the eight-game homestead to open the season. USCB will host NCAA Division II Savannah State on Tuesday, Feb. 11. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. at Richard Gray Stadium.