CLERMONT, Fla. - To open the Sun Conference Tournament, USCB softball edged Keiser, 1-0, in the first game of the tournament, but fell to Webber International, 8-0, in the night cap on Thursday at PFX Athletics.
INSIDE THE KEISER BOX SCORE
Maria Molloseau - seven innings, complete game, win, nine hits, no runs, no walks, one strikeout
Devon Weller - 1-for-3, single, RBI
Jodi Hatcher - 1-for-2, game-winning run, double
Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-3, single
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first inning was a sticky situation for the Sand Sharks when Ally Thompson reached on a bunt single. Elsie Rivera followed with a single through the left side to put two runners on with one out. To end the inning, Alte (playing third base) fielded the ball, touched third and threw over to first to end the threat with an inning-ending double play.
The second inning was also a scare for USCB when Keiser tried to move Janelle Dominguez to third with one out. The Seahawk reached base on a fielding error. Dominguez stole second with ease, but Hatcher caught the Seahawk trying to swipe third to erase the runner in scoring position.
USCB found offensive momentum in the bottom of the third when Hatcher smacked a double to right center. Zinia Hampleton laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, and she even reached base to put runners at the corners. Weller carried the momentum with a RBI single through the left side. USCB forced the bases loaded with two outs, but the final out was recorded in the one-run inning.
Molloseau only needed the one run, though, as the senior right-handed pitcher held Keiser scoreless for the next four innings. The Seneca, S.C. native allowed at least one hit in the final four innings, including a pair of hits in both the fifth and seventh innings. However, no Sehawks touched home during that stretch.
To end the game, the Seahawks worked one-out magic. Kelsie Marriman and Cheyenne Blumberg connected with a single each. The Sand Sharks forced a ground out, and Alte repeated what she did in the first inning with a game-ending double play. With game-ending play, the Sand Sharks sealed the one-run win and advanced in the winner's bracket of the Sun Conference Tournament.
INSIDE THE WEBBER INTERNATIONAL BOX SCORE
Alte - 2-for-3, double, single
Furbush - 1-for-3, single
Caitlin Toole - 1.1 innings, two hits, one run
Libby Carey - 2.1 innings, five hits, two runs, two strikeouts
HOW IT HAPPENED
WIU started the scoring early with a lone run in the bottom of the first.
The Warriors then took control of the contest in the bottom of the second with four runs off four hits. The four-run frame gave them the 5-0 advantage.
Thompson carried that momentum with a leadoff inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the third to make it 6-0.
Pushing the lead to seven in the fourth, Saylor connected with a RBI single, and to end the contest in the sixth, Atkinson poked the game-winning RBI single to conclude the game, 8-0.
RECORDS UPDATE
No. 4 USCB - 24-22 overall
No. 5 Keiser - 20-21 overall
No. 1 Webber International - 29-22 overall
WHAT'S NEXT?
USCB will move into the elimination bracket, where it will play at 9 a.m. at PFX Athletics on Friday, May 7. If the Sand Sharks win that game, they will advance to the next round (game eight), which will start at 4:30 p.m. on May 7. If the Sand Sharks win game eight, then they will advance to game nine, which will start at 7 p.m. on May 7.
