HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Addie Reynolds provided the game-winning at-bat for the USCB softball team in game one, as Ashlyn Alte scampered home to claim game one of the doubleheader - 4-3. However, Keiser nipped the Sand Sharks in the second game, 4-1, to split the doubleheader on Friday at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Mackenzie Freeman - 3-for-4, two doubles, single, one RBI

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

Reynolds - 1-for-4, double

Francie Gaskin and Alyssa Smith - one single each

Reghan Steifle - five innings, four hits, three runs, two walks, four strikeouts

Caitlin Toole - three innings, win, no runs, no hits, no walks, one strikeout

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

The first two frames cruised by for both clubs, as USCB and Keiser combined for just three runners left on base in the 0-0 game. 

The offenses for both teams woke up in the third. Keiser poked two hits, but it wasn't able to score thanks to great pitching from Steifle. 

In the bottom of the second, USCB broke the scoreless tie. Coleman and Gaskin had singles in the inning, and Freeman connected with a double down the left field line. Coleman was obstructed by the KU catcher at home, which allowed her to score.

The next inning, the Seahawks tied the game at 1-1 when they used small ball to knot the game.

Just one inning later, the Seahawks took the two-run lead when Lizzy Small connected with a two-run homer to center. Daryn Miller nearly brought the ball back, but it tipped off her glove in the effort. 

After a scoreless sixth, USCB was down to its final three outs in the seventh. After an out, Coleman poked a single up the middle to put one on base. Following a pitching change, Devon Weller walked to put two runners on base. Gaskin moved both players up 60 feet on a ground out, and with two outs, Freeman, again, came up clutch with the game-tying, two RBI knock. With Freeman still at second, the final out was recorded to force extras. 

To start the eighth inning, USCB's defense shined. With the runner placed on second, a ground out was recorded, but a runner was able to reach via a dropped third strike. With a safety squeeze on, Reynolds grabbed the softly-hit ball to tag the Seahawk coming home for the second out. Still with two Seahawks on base and no runs in the inning, a flyout was recorded to keep Keiser off the scoreboard in the eighth.

Wasting no time, Smith laid down a beautiful bunt single to put runners at the corners. Reynolds struck a deep fly to right. Despite the dropped ball, Alte raced home to give the Sand Sharks the victory in extras, 4-3. 

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Jazmin Ramirez - 2-for-3, double, single

Smith - 2-for-3, two singles

Freeman - 1-for-3, single, RBI

Weller - 1-for-4, single, one run

Gaskin, Miller and Coleman - one single each

Taylor Florea - two innings, two hits, one earned run, no walks

Libby Carey - 2.1 innings, four hits, two runs, one walk, one strikeout

Toole - 2.2 innings, one hit, no runs, one walk, two strikeouts

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

After a 1-2-3 inning from each team in the first, Keiser scored two runs in the second - both with two outs. 

The Sand Sharks found some offensive momentum in the third when Miller and Ramirez each collected two singles with one out. However, both Sand Sharks were left stranded in the two-run game.

After a scoreless fourth, the Seahawks worked a long fifth inning to double their lead, 4-0. Caroline Austin and Small had the RBIs for KU.

USCB had a prime chance to post a crooked number in the bottom of the sixth. Weller and Gaskin cracked back-to-back singles with one out to place runners at the corners. Freeman recorded a single through the right side to make it a 4-1 game. After an out, Smith posted an infield hit to force the bases loaded, but the final out was recorded before the big inning could happen for the Sand Sharks. 

Keiser stranded two in the top of the seventh, and USCB tried to take advantage. Ramirez smoked a double off the wall in left center, and Coleman tapped a seeing-eye single to put two Sand Sharks on base. Again, the final two outs were recorded before USCB could score in the 4-1 loss. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 21-27 overall, 11-15 Sun Conference

Keiser - 21-25-1 overall, 10-16 Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

The rubber match between USCB and Keiser is slated for Saturday, April 30 at Richard Gray Stadium. First pitch is set for noon. 

USCB will honor two of its seniors - Hoolie Garcia and Charli Shepheard - after the game, as both Sand Sharks graduated on Friday morning in Bluffton.