HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Behind 12 hits and 13 unanswered runs in the first four innings, the USCB softball team cruised to a run-rule victory over Florida Memorial, 13-4, to begin the series over the Lions on Friday afternoon at Richard Gray Stadium. The second game of the series was suspended in the top of the second due to rain and will resume on Saturday at 9 a.m. 

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Devon Weller - 2-for-4, two singles, four RBIs, one run

Jaci Coleman - 2-for-3, two singles, three RBIs, two runs

Ashlyn Alte - 2-for-3, two singles, one RBI, one run

Alyssa Smith - 1-for-2, triple, one RBI, two walks, two runs

Mackenzie Freeman and Addie Reynolds - one hit and two runs each

Francie Gaskin - 1-for-3, one RBI

Harlee Walker - 1-for-2, single, one RBI, two runs

Daryn Miller - 1-for-2, single, one RBI, one run

Sierra Bilinski - five innings, win, two hits, four runs, seven strikeouts

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

After Bilinski mowed down the FMU lineup in the first, USCB's offense worked quickly by scoring four runs off four hits and an error. Smith led off the inning with a triple, and Weller followed with a RBI single. A couple batters later, USCB doubled its lead thanks to a Lion error. Following the first out of the frame, Gaskin collected a run-scoring hit of her own, which pushed the lead to three. On the next batter, Coleman put the ball in play, which scored Freeman and gave USCB the four-run lead - 4-0.

After adding a run in the bottom of the second (RBI single from Alte), the Sand Shark offense poured it on with another four-run frame in the third. USCB put together three straight run-scoring at-bats to push the lead to nine, 9-0. Miller, Smith and Weller were the three Sand Sharks to plate runs in the frame. 

Bilinski continued to mow down the Lion lineup in the fourth, but the Lions were able to break up the no-hitter with a one-out single up the middle. Despite FMU's first hit of the game, Bilinski left the runner stranded on base.

The USCB offense couldn't be stopped, as it kept pouring in runs. In the bottom of the fourth, Coleman and Walker posted back-to-back run-scoring hits. Weller capped off the long inning with a RBI ground out to push the lead to 13, 13-0. 

The Florida Memorial offense was able to break on to the scoreboard in the fifth, but it was too little too late, as USCB claimed the run-rule victory over the Lions, 13-4. 

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

Game two was suspended in the top of the second due to rain. USCB took the early 1-0 lead, but Florida Memorial rallied back with a three-run top of the second. The inning was still going on before play was suspended with FMU up 3-1. There were two outs in the inning and a 1-0 count on Samantha Triana. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 13-9 overall, 4-0 Sun Conference

Florida Memorial - 1-7 overall, 0-4 Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB and Florida Memorial will conclude its three-game series on Saturday, March 19 in Hardeeville. The suspended game will resume at 9 a.m., and the third game of the series will start after game two of the series concludes.