HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Behind numerous stellar performances on Saturday, the USCB softball team collected its first conference sweep of 2021, as it upended Ave Maria, 4-0 and 4-3 (eight innings), at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Ally Muraskin - win, seven innings, two hits, no runs, nine strikeouts, two walks

Devon Weller - 1-for-2, two RBIs

Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-2, one RBI, one run

Zinia Hampleton - 1-for-3, one RBI

Bri Dunn - 1-for-2, one run

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

Both teams struggled offensively to find momentum, as both starting pitchers dominated the circle from the first pitch. That stretch for the AMU starting pitcher came to a screeching halt in the bottom of the fourth, as USCB plated four runs to take the four-run lead.

Mackenzie Freeman started off the frame with a walk, and her, along with Amber Locasto, put two runners on base following a walk. Dunn followed with a bunt single to force the bases loaded with no outs. Following a fielder's choice, Alte walked to make it a 1-0 game. After a pitching change and a pop out, Weller singled down the left field line to plate Phillips and Dunn, and Hampleton capped off the scoring with a RBI single.

Aside from the fourth inning, neither team had a solid opportunity to plate runs. With that, USCB rode Muraskin's success in the circle, as she only allowed one runner to reach base from the fourth inning-on. 

With the four-run third and Muraskin's nine-strikeout performance, the Sand Sharks claimed the 4-0 shutout over the Gyrenes in game one. 

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Maria Molloseau - six innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, four strikeouts

Sierra Bilinski - one inning, no runs, no hits, one walk, one strikeout

Muraskin - win, one inning, no runs, not hits, no walks, one strikeout

Furbush - 1-for-3, game-tying two-run homer in seventh inning

Alte - 0-for-3, two RBIs, walk-off walk in eighth inning

Emily Phillips - 1-for-3, one run

Jaci Coleman - 1-for-2, single

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

Just like game one, it was a pitching duel in the second game. Ave Maria eventually broke that trend in the third inning when it plated the go-ahead run off Morgan Grimm's bat. 

Following scoreless fourth and fifth innings, the Gyrenes added two more runs in the top of the sixth to take the 3-0 lead.

Twirling a perfect game at this point, USCB broke that trend in dramatic fashion - a three-run seventh inning to knot the game at 3-all. Dunn started the rally by reaching base safely on an error, and she moved to second on the errant throw. Phillips gave USCB its first hit off a bunt, which put runners at the corners. Alte grounded out to the pitcher, but with smart base running, Dunn was able to touch home to make it a 3-1 game. On the first pitch she saw, Furbush uncorked the game-tying, two-run home run to left. It was Furbush's third home run in a Sand Shark uniform.

Due to extra-inning rules, a Gyrene was placed on second base in the eighth inning. After a web gem of a play from Locasto, the Gyrene was caught stealing at third base. Riding the momentum, Muraskin struck out the final batter to keep the game level, 3-3.

With Rachel Frankhouser on second base to start the eighth, she moved to third base after a fly out and a ground out. Dunn followed with a hit-by-pitch, and Jodi Hatcher forced the bases loaded via a four-pitch walk. With the game-winning run still on third, AMU changed pitchers, but that didn't help, as the reliever threw four straight balls to Alte and drove in Frankhouser for the game-winning run, 4-3.

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 14-12 overall, 5-5 Sun Conference

Ave Maria - 15-9 overall, 3-5 Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB will play another pair of Sun Conference games at home on Wednesday, March 31 when it hosts Thomas. The two clubs met earlier this year and split. Wednesday's doubleheader is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Richard Gray Stadium.