KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Behind a 12-run third inning, the USCB softball team cruised to a 13-1 victory over Penn State - Hazleton on Wednesday, as the Sand Sharks concluded play at the Spring Games. 

INSIDE THE PENN STATE HAZLETON BOX SCORE

Caitlin Toole - five innings, win, complete game, four hits, one run, one walk, three strikeouts

Mackenzie Freeman - 2-for-3, home run, three RBIs, two runs

Devon Weller - 2-for-3, double, single, three RBIs, two runs

Francie Gaskin - 1-for-1, home run, two RBIs

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

Alyssa Smith - 1-for-3, double, one run

Addie Reynolds - 1-for-2, one RBI, three runs

Harlee Walker - 0-for-1, two RBIs

HOW THE PENN STATE - HAZLETON GAME HAPPENED

The Nittany Lions took the early lead thanks to a two-out solo home run from Tori Rabuck. The homer gave them the 1-0 advantage.

After leaving a Sand Shark on base in the bottom of the first, PSUH nearly added insurance runs in the top of the second. After back-to-back singles to start the frame, the two players reached scoring position via a sac bunt. With one down, Toole stayed calm and forced back-to-back weak contact at-bats, which allowed USCB to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Sand Shark offense found momentum in the bottom of the second. USCB took advantage of a throwing error, and Walker plated Reynolds on a sac fly later in the inning to knot the game at 1-1.

After the first 1-2-3 inning for Penn State Hazleton, USCB's offense came unhinged in the home half of the third by scoring 12 runs off eight hits and four PSUH errors. Every Sand Sharks got to have two at-bats in the inning. Of the eight hits, three went for extra bases, including a pair of homers from Gaskin and Freeman. Freeman demolished a two-run ball to straight away center, while Gaskin hit a no-doubter to right field. To go along in the inning, Weller (single and double) and Freeman (home run and single) had two hits each in the inning. The prolonged inning gave USCB the commanding 13-1 lead. 

After a scoreless fourth inning for both clubs, Toole made quick work of the Nittany Lion lineup in the fifth to collect her second win of the campaign.

ABOUT THE SIENA HEIGHTS GAME

Due to weather that hit in the middle of the day, the remainder of the games on Wednesday were cancelled. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 9-9 overall

Penn State - Hazleton - 0-3 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

After playing four games in the last three days, USCB will take one day of rest before opening Sun Conference action on Friday and Saturday at Warner. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. in Lake Wales, Fla.