HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Harlee Walker and Alyssa Smith had a big day at the plate, as the two Sand Sharks collected three hits each, but the USCB softball team fell to Ave Maria, 4-2 and 12-4, on Friday at Richard Gray Stadium.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Francie Gaskin - 1-for-2, double, one RBI
Walker - 1-for-2, single, one RBI
Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-3, single, one run
Smith - 1-for-3, single, one run
Sierra Bilinski - 4.1 innings, three hits, three earned runs, three strikeouts
Libby Carey - 2.2 innings, four hits, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
After dealing with traffic on the base paths in the first inning, USCB took the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Gaskin cranked a RBI double, which scored Alte from first base.
With no offense from either team in the second, the third frame featured a lot of offense for the Sand Sharks. Despite two hits and a walk, three Sand Sharks left the bases loaded.
The fourth inning had both teams score one run. Ave Maria scored one run off an error, while Walker came up clutch for USCB with the go-ahead RBI single to center.
Down 2-1, the Gyrenes rattled off three runs in the top of the fifth to take the 4-2 lead. All three runs were scored off five hits in the frame.
The Sand Shark offense was stymied in the next three innings, as it went down 1-2-3 from the fifth inning-on. With that USCB fell by two runs to AMU, 4-2
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Walker - 2-for-2, two singles, one RBI, one run
Smith - 2-for-4, two singles, two runs
Jaci Coleman, Alte and Devon Weller - one single and one RBI each
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
Unlike game one, the Gyrenes scored first, as they scored two runs in the top of the first.
USCB tried to answer in the bottom of the first, but the Sand Sharks left the bases loaded.
The Sand Sharks broke through in the home half of the second. Smith poked a leadoff single, and Daryn Miller reached base on a throwing error. Walker forced the bases loaded on a walk with no outs, and Coleman and Alte poked back-to-back infield singles to tie the game at 2-all. With a runner at third, Weller connected with a sacrifice fly to give USCB the one-run advantage, 3-2.
USCB added to its lead when it tallied a run in the bottom of the third. Smith was able to start the inning by reaching second on a bunt single followed by an AMU error. After a Miller sac bunt, Walker singled to center to make it a two-run game, 4-2.
Despite rallying, Ave Maria used a big fourth inning to take the 11-4 lead.
The Gyrenes added one more insurance run in the sixth to seal the six-inning, 12-4 win.
RECORDS UPDATE
USCB - 17-18 overall, 8-9 Sun Conference
Ave Maria - 20-19 overall, 10-7 Sun Conference
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Sand Sharks will look to salvage a win in the three-game set, as they host Ave Maria on Saturday. The series finale is set to begin at noon at Richard Gray Stadium.
