WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - To conclude its six-game, three-day trip to the Sunshine State, the USCB softball team swept and shut out Keiser, 4-0 and 2-0, on Saturday morning at Alumni Field.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Shania Domingue - 2-for-3, double, two RBIs
Mackenzie Freeman - 1-for-3, double, two RBIs
Devon Weller - 2-for-4, double, single, one run
Amber Locasto - 2-for-3, two singles, one run
Rachel Frankhouser - 1-for-3, single, one run
Ally Muraskin - seven innings, win, five hits, no runs, one walk, five strikeouts
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning from both teams, USCB opened the scoring with two-out magic. Frankhouser tallied an infield single, and Locasto followed with a poke to left field. With two Sand Sharks on base, Freeman uncorked a two RBI double to right center to give USCB the 2-0 lead.
Keiser nearly responded in the home half of the second when two Seahawks were able to reach base via a single and a hit by pitch. Fortunately due to a failed double-steal attempt, USCB was able to record the third and final out at home.
Without wasting time, the Sand Sharks doubled their lead in the top of the third. Weller started the inning with a single, and Dunn followed with a bunt single. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Domingue unleashed a two RBI double of her own to push the lead to four, 4-0.
The Seahawks had two more chances to plate runs, which came in the third and fifth innings. Muraskin was stellar in the circle, as she left all four Seahawks stranded to preserve the shutout.
Continuing that poise, the FIU transfer mowed down the KU lineup in the seventh inning to seal the 4-0 win and her 13th victory of 2021.
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Maria Molloseau - five innings, two hits, no runs, no walks
Muraskin - three innings, win, three hits, no runs, no walks, three strikeouts
Domingue - 2-for-3, double, one RBI
Locasto - 1-for-3, double, one RBI
Bri Dunn - 1-for-3, single
Alyssa Smith - game-winning, go-ahead run in eighth inning
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
Both squads had chances to score the game's opening run in the second inning. Domingue roped a double with two outs, and KU put two runners on base. However, both squads left the runners on base.
The next time a runner reached base came in the sixth inning when the Seahawks totaled two hits. Muraskin worked out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts to keep the contest level, 0-0.
USCB and Keiser had runners reach base safely in the seventh inning, but, again, both players were left stranded.
Still knotted at 0-all, USCB placed Smith on second base to start the extra-inning contest. In a 1-1 count, Domingue smacked the game's opening run to give USCB the 1-0 lead. Frankhouser traded places with Domingue at first, and Locasto struck a screaming double to right center, which allowed Frankhouser to score easily from first. The clutch hits for USCB gave it the 2-0 advantage.
The Seahawks made the contest interesting in the home half of the eighth though. A Seahawk was placed on second, and following a fly out, Mikayla Frost singled to center to put two runners on base. Ally Thompson followed with a sacrifice bunt to put both Seahawks in scoring position. However, Muraskin forced Elsie Rivera to fly out to seal the shutout 2-0 win and her 14th win of the year.
RECORDS UPDATE
USCB - 22-18 overall, 12-8 The Sun Conference
Keiser - 19-17 overall, 11-9 The Sun Conference
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Sand Sharks will conclude their eight-game road swing with a doubleheader affair with Coastal Georgia on Wednesday, April 28 in Brunswick, Ga. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
