COCHRAN, Ga. - The USCB softball team won game one of the doubleheader versus Middle Georgia State on Tuesday, 5-3, and nearly swept the Knights, but the Sand Sharks settled for the split, 5-4, at Knights Field.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Jodi Hatcher - 2-for-3, one RBI

Devon Weller - 1-for-3, double, two RBIs

Zinia Hampleton - 1-for-3, one RBI, one run

Amber Locasto - 0-for-3, one RBI, one run

Sierra Bilinski - seven innings, win, six hits, two earned runs, four strikeouts, two walks

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

After a scoreless first inning, USCB broke onto the scoreboard in the second with a one-run frame. USCB had singles from Hatcher and Hampleton, and Rachel Frankhouser forced the bases loaded thanks to an error. Locasto pinch hit and drew a walk to score Hampleton, and the run gave USCB the 1-0 lead.

MGA answered in the bottom of the second with a run of its own. Logan Blizzard scored on Emma Raulerson's single to knot the game at 1-1.

The Sand Sharks carried their momentum into the third inning with a pair of runs to take the two-run lead, 3-1. Hatcher collected the go-ahead RBI single, and Hampleton drew a RBI walk to score Furbush from third. 

The Knights made it a one-run contest in the bottom of the fourth, 3-2, as Blizzard scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.

The Sand Shark offense added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth, when Weller cracked a two RBI double to right center. The hit plated Locasto and Marti Gathings, which made the game 5-2.

Via a USCB error in the bottom of the sixth, MGA made the game 5-3, as Makinsey Long scored on a sacrifice fly.

After leaving two stranded on base in the seventh, Bilinski sealed the two-run win with a quick bottom of the seventh. She allowed a seeing-eye single with one out, but the Knight didn't score, as USCB claimed the 5-3 victory.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Caitlin Toole - 4.2 innings, two hits, no runs, no walks

Maria Molloseau - 0.1 innings, no runs, no hits, one strikeout

Weller - 2-for-4, double, two RBIs

Kaleigh Furbush - 2-for-4, two singles, two runs

Ashlyn Alte - 2-for-4, two singles, one RBI

Hatcher and Hoolie Garcia - one single and one run each

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

The second game of the doubleheader started out quickly for both ball clubs, as both teams exchanged a pair of runs. Weller dropped the blow for USCB, as she smacked a two RBI double to left field. 

MGA took its first lead of the day, as it collected a three-run second frame to take the 5-2 lead. 

The Sand Sharks started to chip away at the deficit, as they plated a run in the top of the third to make the game 5-3. Furbush touched home in the inning thanks to a Knight error. 

USCB again chipped away and made it a one-run game in the top of the sixth, 5-4. Alte posted a clutch, two-out hit to score Garcia from second base. 

The Sand Sharks had a key chance to tie or take the lead in the seventh. Furbush started the inning with a single, and after being pinch ran for, Weller connected with a single to put two runners on base. Hampleton laid down a sacrifice bunt to put both Sand Sharks in scoring position, but the next two USCB batters went down via a fly out and a ground out to leave them both in scoring position.

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 11-11 overall

Middle Georgia State - 10-14 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks will take just one day off before returning to the diamond on March 25, as they welcome St. Thomas to Hardeeville, S.C. for a league doubleheader. The Sun Conference matchup begins at 2 p.m. at Richard Gray Stadium.