HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Looking to salvage a victory in the series, not only did USCB softball salvage a win, but the Sand Sharks did so in dramatic fashion. With the bases loaded and one out, Mackenzie Freeman delivered the game-winning, walk-off sacrifice fly for USCB to lift the Sand Sharks to a 3-2 victory over No. 10 Coastal Georgia on Wednesday at Richard Gray Stadium. The win gave the Mariners their second loss of the year and their first Sun Conference defeat too.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Reghan Steifle - win, 6.2 innings, eight hits, two runs, one walk, threes strikeouts
Freeman - 0-for-3, game-winning sac fly, one RBI
Jaci Coleman - 2-for-3, two singles, one run
Daryn Miller - 2-for-3, game-winning run, two singles, stolen base
Alyssa Smith - 2-for-4, two singles, one run
Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-3, single, one RBI
Devon Weller - 1-for-3, single, one walk, stolen base
Libby Carey - 0.1 innings, save, no runs, no hits, no walks, one strikeout
HOW IT HAPPENED
USCB faced the minimum in the top of the first, and the Sand Sharks worked quickly with a lone run in the home half of the first. Smith started the inning with a first-pitch single, and Weller poked a seeing-eye single to put two runners in scoring position. Alte collected the RBI, as she singled through the left side to push the lead to one. USCB was able to put two more runners in scoring position, but that was all it would be able to score in the frame.
No. 10 Coastal Georgia quickly answered in the top of the second with a pair of runs.
USCB's offense sputtered for the next two innings, but in the bottom of the fourth, the Sand Sharks tied the game at 2-all thanks to a Coastal Georgia fielding error. With two runners on base, Smith put the ball in play, and CCGA committed a fielding error, which allowed Coleman to touch home to tie the contest.
The Mariners nearly retook the lead in the top of the fifth, but Steifle stayed poised in the circle to leave two Mariners on base.
Both teams left one runner on base in the sixth and top of the seventh, but USCB had other plans from the start of the home half of the seventh. Miller beat out an infield single, and she then swiped second to move into scoring position. Able to advance to third on a ground out, CCGA intentionally walked the next two batters to force the bases loaded and one out. Facing Freeman, she worked the count and was able to turn on an inside pitch. With her deep flyout to left, Miller hustled home to lift USCB to a walk-off win, 3-2, over No. 10 Coastal Georgia.
RECORDS UPDATE
USCB - 16-11 overall, 7-2 Sun Conference
No. 10 Coastal Georgia - 22-2 overall, 5-1 Sun Conference
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Sand Sharks will be on the road for eight straight games. Kicking off that stretch is a three-game series at Webber International beginning on March 25 in Babson Park, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
