HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - In a mid-week Sun Conference matchup, the USCB softball team slipped against No. 10 Coastal Georgia, 5-1 and 6-2, on Tuesday afternoon at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Francie Gaskin - 2-for-3, two singles, one RBI

Harlee Walker - 2-for-3, double, single

Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-4, single, one run

Taylor Florea - seven innings, seven hits, three earned runs, five strikeouts

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

The Mariners took the early one-run lead in the first when Kayla Rowell worked a bases-loaded walk with one out. Florea stopped the bleeding though, as she forced a fielder's choice and a strikeout to leave the other three players on base. 

USCB had a prime chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the second when Mackenzie Freeman, Addie Reynolds and Gaskin started the frame with back-to-back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded, the Mariner starting pitcher worked out of the inning without any runs to score and kept the lead at 1-0.

CCGA doubled the lead, 2-0, when Melani Jones scored on a wild pitch. 

After a quiet fourth, both teams had chances to plate runs. In the top of the fourth, CCGA left a runner stranded in scoring position, while Jaci Coleman and Walker were stranded at third and second base for USCB. 

In the bottom of the sixth, the Sand Sharks were able to break onto the scoreboard and nearly tied the contest. Alte poked a single to short, and Freeman walked to put two runners on base. After a ground out that advanced both runners 60 feet, Gaskin smacked a run-scoring single up the middle to make the game 2-1. Coleman then followed with a fly out, and playing aggressively, Freeman tried to score to tie the game. However, she was called out to keep the Mariners ahead by one run.

After two quick outs in the top of the seventh, the Mariners added to their lead with a trio of runs. With two hits and an error in the frame, Coastal Georgia took the 5-1 lead.

Moving into the bottom of the seventh, Walker and Daryn Miller tried to spark a rally with a leadoff double followed by a Miller single. With runners at the corners, CCGA worked out unscathed to win the first game, 5-1.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Devon Weller - 3-for-4, double, two singles, one RBI

Gaskin - 2-for-3, two singles

Coleman - 1-for-2, triple, one run

Alyssa Smith - 1-for-4, single, one run

Sierra Bilinski - four innings, five hits, three runs, two walks, two strikeouts

Caitlin Toole - three innings, four hits, three urns, one walk, three strikeouts

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

Unlike game one, USCB took the first lead of the game in the first inning. Smith started the rally with a bunt single and then swiped second to move into scoring position. On the next at-bat, Weller smacked a RBI double down the left field line to take the 1-0 lead. 

Moving into the fourth frame, CCGA took its first lead of the contest with a trio of runs. 

Down 3-1, USCB had a prime chance to score in the home half of the fourth when Reynolds and Gaskin reached base safely on two consecutive singles. Unfortunately, both were left stranded on the bases. 

After a scoreless fifth, the Mariners tacked on three more insurance runs off three hits in the sixth to take the five-run lead, 6-1. 

The Sand Sharks had fight in them in the seventh inning. Coleman ripped a triple to right center, and she scored on Walker's sacrifice fly to make the game 6-2. Miller reached base on a fielding error, and after an out, Weller connected with a single down the left field line to put two Sand Sharks on base. However, USCB couldn't add more in the four-run loss, 6-2. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 15-11 overall, 6-2 Sun Conference

No. 10 Coastal Georgia - 22-1 overall, 5-0 Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB and Coastal Georgia will conclude the three-game series on Wednesday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at Richard Gray Stadium.