THOMASVILLE, Ga. - The USCB softball team collected its third split of the year on Monday, as the Sand Sharks and Thomas battled in a pitching duel, 2-1 and 4-3, at Armory Field.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Ally Muraskin - six innings, five hits, two runs, one walk, 10 strikeouts

Bri Dunn - 3-for-4, double, two singles

Devon Weller - 1-for-3, double one RBI

Jaci Coleman - 1-for-2, single, one run, one walk

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

The first three innings were dominated by both starting pitchers - USCB's Muraskin and TU's Rebecca Boesen. In that three-inning stretch, the two pitchers allowed just two hits, which were both singles, and combined for nine strikeouts.

The scoreless drought was broken in the fourth frame when the Sand Sharks plated a run. Coleman started the rally with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After two outs, Weller cracked a double to left field, which plated Coleman from second and gave USCB the 1-0 lead.

TU quickly retaliated in the home half of the fourth with a run of its own. Addyson Mauldin cracked a double, which scored Makana Pember from second base.

USCB had a key chance in the top of the fifth to break the 1-all tie, as it started a two-out rally. Emily Phillips, Dunn and Coleman posted three straight singles to force the bases loaded. Unfortunately, the rally ended with all three Sand Sharks left on base and still tied 1-1.

The Night Hawks took advantage of the three runners left on base in the bottom of the fifth with a lone run. The run was scored on a wild pitch and gave Thomas the 2-1 lead.

USCB tried to mount a rally in the top of the seventh when Phillips reached base on an error. Dunn smacked a double to left field, which put two runners in scoring position with one out. After a pitching change, the next two Sand Sharks went down in order in the one-run loss, 2-1. 

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Maria Molloseau - six innings, win, there runs, five hits, one walk, two strikeouts

Muraskin - one inning, save, one walk, one strikeout

Zinia Hampleton - 2-for-3, double, single, one RBI, one run

Jodi Hatcher - 1-for-3, double, two RBIs, one run

Ashlyn Alte and Weller - one single and one run scored each

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

Unlike the first game of the doubleheader, USCB's offense started working right away, as Phillips and Kaleigh Furbush connected with a pair of singles in the first inning. Despite getting a runner in scoring position, the Sand Sharks left two runners on base. 

Thomas broke the scoreless tie in the bottom fo the fourth with a trio of runs. Averie Sheppard, Kennedy Hardy and Holly Campbell all posted RBI singles to amount to the three Night Hawk runs.

Despite being down three runs, the Sand Sharks didn't cave. In the top of the fourth, Alte started the frame with a single, and one out later, Weller tallied an infield single to put two runners on base. Hatcher made it hurt, as she crushed a two-run scoring double to right field. One pitch later, Hampleton made it a 3-3 game, as she roped a ground-rule double to left. After a pitching change, the new Night Hawk pitcher posted back-to-back wild pitches, which allowed Hampleton to score and give USCB its first lead of the game - 4-3. 

Molloseau found another gear in the fourth and fifth innings, as she sat the Night Hawk lineup down in order.

That stretch was ended in the sixth, but it was only a one-out single that didn't amount to runs for TU.

With a one-run lead (4-3), Muraskin came back to close the game, and she did so in dominating fashion, as she struck out one and sealed her first save as a Sand Shark.

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 10-10 overall, 2-4 Sun Conference

Thomas - 12-8 overall, 3-3 Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks' six-game road swing concludes on Tuesday, as they will make the short trek to Cochran, Ga. to face off with Middle Georgia State. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.