MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Behind Ally Muraskin's career-high 11-strikeout performance and a five-run fourth inning in game one, the USCB softball team split with St. Thomas, 5-0 and 2-0, on Thursday night at Colonel Kelly Field.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Muraskin - seven innings, win, two hits, no runs, 11 strikeouts, two walks
Bri Dunn - 2-for-4, one RBI
Devon Weller - 1-for-4, two RBIs
Zinia Hampleton - 1-for-3, one RBI, one run
Shania Domingue - 1-for-3, one run
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
USCB nearly had a big first inning, as it started a rally with one out. Dunn singled to center, and Ashlyn Alte followed with a walk. Following a pop out, the two Sand Sharks advanced into scoring position thanks to a wild pitch. However, the final out was recorded to leave both runners stranded.
After two 1-2-3 innings, Muraskin gave up her first hit of the day, which was a single in the third. After a fielder's choice and a bunt single, the FIU transfer left both Bobcats at first and second to keep the game scoreless.
After the scare, the Sand Sharks' offense erupted for five runs off six hits to go along with a STU error. Kaleigh Furbush started the frame with a single, and after a pinch runner, Domingue collected an infield single to put two runners on base. Hoolie Garcia laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up 60 feet, and Mackenzie Freeman came in to pinch hit. She was hit by a pitch in a 2-1 count to force the bases load. After Rachel Frankhouser re-entered the game, Hampleton cracked a run-scoring single to right, and Jodi Hatcher followed with a RBI single of her own to keep the bases loaded. Weller put down one of the biggest hits of the game with a two RBI single, which advanced the lead to four - 4-0. After a pitching change, Dunn tallied an infield single, which scored Hatcher and accounted for the fifth and final run.
Muraskin continued her dominance in the circle, as she allowed just two runners to reach base (both walks) from the fourth inning-on. She even recorded two 1-2-3 inning and finished the five-run win with a strikeout swinging.
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Maria Molloseau - four innings, four hits, one earned run, two walks
Libby Carey - two innings, one hit, no runs, one walk
Weller, Hatcher, Frankhouser and Domingue - one single each
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
USCB and St. Thomas tallied one single each in the first inning, but neither team would score.
In the second, the Sand Sharks had a key chance to break the scoreless tie, as they forced the bases loaded thanks to three walks. Unfortunately, the inning was ended via a double play lineout to keep the contest level, 0-0.
Just an inning later, USCB threatened yet again. Weller started the frame with a ringing single. After two outs, Furbush was hit by a pitch, and Domingue followed with another infield hit. With two outs and the bases loaded, the third out of the inning was recorded on a ground out to leave all three stranded.
STU broke the 0-0 ballgame with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Daniela Bautista came up with the blow, as she scored two unearned runs to take the 2-0 lead.
The Sand Sharks didn't have a runner reach base until the seventh inning when Frankhouser tallied an infield single. After two outs, Frankhouser moved to second, but that was as far as she would get, as the Sand Sharks fell 2-0.
RECORDS UPDATE
USCB - 19-17 overall, 10-8 The Sun Conference
St. Thomas - 12-18 overall, 6-14 The Sun Conference
WHAT'S NEXT?
USCB will continue its eight-game road swing with another pair of away games at Florida National on April 23. First pitching Hialeah, Fla. is set for noon.
