HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - The USCB softball team combined for 18 runs and 27 hits in the doubleheader sweep, 15-0 and 3-1, on Tuesday night versus Savannah State.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Francie Gaskin - 3-for-3, three RBIs
Alyssa Smith - 3-for-3, double, two singles, one RBI, three runs
Harlee Walker - 2-for-4, two singles
Zinia Hampleton - 2-for-3, two singles, one RBI, two runs
Devon Weller - 1-for-5, double, two runs
Addie Reynolds - 1-for-3, single, one RBI, two runs
Mackenzie Freeman - 1-for-3, double, three RBIs
Taylor Florea - 1-for-1, one RBI
Sierra Bilinski - 1-for-1, two RBIs, double, one run
Caitlin Toole - five innings, win, no run, seven strikeouts
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
USCB's offense started off red hot by plating five runs off three hits and an error in the first inning. Hampleton earned a bases-loaded walk, while Freeman followed with a bases-clearing, three RBI double to push the lead to four. Gaskin made it a 5-0 game on a sacrifice fly in her first at-bat of the contest.
After a quick bottom of the first, the Sand Sharks carried the offensive momentum with a four-run second. Reynolds collected a RBI single, while Freeman plated two runs after she put the ball in play. Capping off the scoring was Gaskin, who poked a run-scoring hit to make the contest 9-0.
After adding a run in the third and a scoreless fourth, the Sand Sharks poured in five more runs in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 15, 15-0. Bilinski, Haley Massenburg and Gaskin all tallied the runs for USCB in the frame.
Toole continued her dominance in the circle to close out the game and collected her first win of the 2022 season. Overall, she left five Tigers on base without allowing a run to score.
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Reynolds - 2-for-4, two singles, two RBIs
Ashlyn Alte - 2-for-4, double, one RBI, one run
Taylor VanHouse - 2-for-3, two singles
Weller and Smith - one hit and one run each
Libby Carey - 4.1 innings, win, four hits, one run, no walks, eight strikeouts
Reghan Steifle - 2.2 innings, save, no runs, no hits, one walk, five strikeouts
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
Similar to game one, USCB scored early with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Weller started the rally with a walk, and after a strikeout, Alte doubled to center to put two runners on base. Reynolds scored both of her teammates with a bases-clearing, two RBI single to right.
In the bottom of the second, SSU eventually broke onto the scoreboard with a lone run, which made the game 2-1.
The Sand Sharks quickly responded in the top of the third when Alte poked a run-scoring hit up the middle.
USCB continued to put runners on base for the final four innings, as it finished the game leaving seven runners on base. However, Carey and Steifle stayed poised in the pitcher's circle, as the Sand Shark duo allowed just one hit in that four-inning stretch.
Behind solid pitching, USCB claimed the doubleheader sweep over Savannah State, 3-1.
RECORDS UPDATE
USCB - 5-3 overall
Savannah State - 1-3 overall
WHAT'S NEXT?
USCB will rest for its first tournament of the season - the Bearcat Round Robin - which is a two-day, four-game tournament hosted by Lander from Feb. 19-20. USCB opens the outing on Feb. 19 versus North Georgia and Lander in Greenwood, S.C.
