KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Facing some of the toughest competition in the NAIA, the USCB softball team battled but ultimately fell to No. 19 St. Xavier, 10-4, and No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan, 4-2, on Monday to open action at the Spring Games. 

INSIDE THE ST XAVIER BOX SCORE

Devon Weller - 3-for-3, three singles, one RBI, one run

Alyssa Smith - 3-for-4, three singles, one run

Mackenzie Freeman - 2-for-3, double, single, one run

Jaci Coleman - 2-for-3, two singles

Sierra Bilinski - 3.2 innings, four hits, no earned runs

Caitlin Toole - 3.1 innings, seven hits, three runs, two strikeouts

HOW THE ST XAVIER GAME HAPPENED

After leaving three on base in the first, USCB broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second with a lone run. Coleman walked, and Harlee Walker laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put her teammate in scoring position. After a groundout that put Coleman at third, Weller made it hurt with a single through the left side. Smith followed with a single of her own, but the two Sand Sharks were left on base.

Bilinski dealt with traffic on the base paths in the top of the third. The upperclassman stayed composed in the circle, as she left three Cougars on the bases. 

Up 1-0, USCB doubled that lead thanks to a one-out hit from Coleman. Freeman roped a double down the right field line, and she moved to third on a wild pitch. After a walk, Coleman stroked a single to center to make the game 2-0.

Moving into the fourth inning, the Cougars took advantage of two USCB errors to take the 7-2 lead.

Following a scoreless fifth, St. Xavier pushed the lead to seven, 9-2, with a two-run single from Maggie Bailey. 

USCB didn't cave, as it posted a long inning of its own in the bottom of the sixth. Weller smacked a rally-starting single, and Smith beat out a bunt single to put two Sand Sharks on base. After a wild pitch, Alte poked a two RBI single to right to make it a five-run contest, 9-4. Addie Reynolds followed with a single of her own, but the final two outs were recorded to end the rally. 

No. 19 St. Xavier added an insurance run in the seventh, and USCB went down in order in the six-run loss, 10-4. 

INSIDE THE INDIANA WESLEYAN BOX SCORE

Coleman - 2-for-2, two singles, one run

Freeman - 1-for-3, double

Daryn Miller - 1-for-3, single, one RBI

Smith - 1-for-4, single

Taylor Florea - 4.1 innings, two hits, four runs, four strikeouts

Reghan Steifle - 1.2 innings, one hit, no runs, one strikeout

HOW THE INDIANA WESLEYAN GAME HAPPENED

After holding USCB off the scoreboard in the first, No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan took the early lead in the home half of the first. Jenny Yost touched home on a groundout for IWU to take the 1-0 lead.

The Sand Sharks quickly answered in the next frame with some one-out magic. Francie Gaskin struck out but was able to reach base on a dropped third strike. Coleman followed with a hard single to right, and Walker put both Sand Sharks in scoring position on her ground out. Miller cracked a single up the middle to easily score Gaskin from third. Causing confusion, Miller tried to move into scoring position on the throw and did so successfully. Trying to throw her out at second, the IWU catcher made an errant throw, which allowed Coleman and Miller to move up an additional 60 feet. Miller was left stranded, as the next out was recorded, but USCB was able to take the 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second, a Sand Shark error allowed a Wildcat to reach base and into scoring position. The IWU player moved to third on a wild pitch with just one out. However, Florea stayed poised in the circle and struck out the next two batters swinging and looking to preserve the one-run lead, 2-1.

USCB had a chance in the top of the third to advance the lead. Smith led off with a single and moved to second via a wild pitch. After a ground out, Reynolds put the ball in play, and on that play, Smith was gunned out at home trying to sneak across a run. 

Moving into the fourth, Coleman was able to get a hit with one out, but her teammates couldn't plate her.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats nearly knotted the contest at 2-all, but a heads-up play from Gaskin preserved the one-run lead. IWU was able to get a runner to second base with two outs. On a ground ball to Gaskin, the sophomore infielder bobbled the ball, which made the Indiana Wesleyan base runner think she could score. However, Gaskin threw the ball home, and Reynolds laid down the tag to get the third out.

Following a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, Indiana Wesleyan retook the lead, 4-2, in the bottom of the inning off one hit, one error and five walks. 

Freeman and Coleman tried to mount an answer in the top of the sixth. After an out, Freeman crushed a double down the left field line to put a runner in scoring position. After a pop out, Coleman drew a tough walk to put two runners on base with two down. Unfortunately for USCB, the third out was recorded to strand the Sand Shark duo. 

Indiana Wesleyan went down quietly in the home half of the sixth. 

The number eight team in the nation came back in to close the contest in the seventh, and the Wildcats did so with a 1-2-3 frame to seal the two-run win, 4-2. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 7-9 overall

No. 19 St. Xavier - 7-2 overall

No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan - 9-2 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB will play games three and four of the Spring Games on Tuesday, March 8 in Kissimmee. The Sand Sharks start early with back-to-back games beginning at 9 a.m. with No. 18 Marian. To end their second day at the tournament, USCB will square off with Lawrence Tech at 11:15 a.m.