ANDERSON, S.C. - To open the 2023 season, the USCB softball team was tasked to take on a tough opponent in the SAC-favorite, Anderson, in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Sand Sharks were able to make the games interesting but ultimately fell in both games, 9-3 and 11-3, at the AU Softball Complex. 

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Devon Weller - 2-for-3, solo homer, single

Zinia Hampleton - 1-for-2, solo homer

Amber Locasto - 1-for-3, single, one run

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

Emily Williams started in the circle for USCB, and she had strong innings to open game one. In fact, she left four Trojans stranded in the first two innings to keep the game 0-0.

AU was able to take advantage with early offense in the third thanks to a walk and a two-run homer from Kayson Boatner.

The Sand Sharks chipped away at the lead thanks to a one-out, solo homer from Weller in the fourth, and in the next inning, Hampleton led off the frame with a solo blast to knot the game at 2-2. With two outs and two on, Locasto gave USCB its first lead thanks to touching home via a wild pitch.

The lead quickly disappeared though, as the Sand Sharks let up seven runs on five hits to give Anderson the six-run lead, 9-3, after five innings.

The Sand Shark offense sent the minimum to the plate in the sixth and seventh innings to see out its first loss of the year. 

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Daryn Miller - 2-for-3, two RBIs, one run

Harlee Walker - 1-for-2, double, one run

Weller - 1-for-1, double

Chloe Turner - 1-for-1, single

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

After leaving two Sand Sharks on base, Anderson rallied for three runs on three hits to take the early lead in the bottom of the first. Morgan Charter and Hannah Whitaker came up with the big hits for the Trojans. 

The Sand Sharks used some two-out magic in the top of the second to make it a one-run game. Locasto drew a walk, and Walker doubled to center to put two runners in scoring position. Miller came up clutch with a two-RBI single to right to make it a 3-2 game. 

Following a quick third inning for USCB, Anderson's offense exploded in the next two innings to take 9-2 lead. 

In the fifth, USCB was able to scratch across a run thanks to Addie Reynolds' run-scoring fielder's choice. 

To put the contest away, Anderson plated two runs in the sixth to run rule USCB, 11-3. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 0-2 overall

Anderson - 2-0 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks will open Richard Gray Stadium with a busy weekend at home, as they play both Saturday and Sunday. Kicking off the week is a doubleheader with Columbia International, which is slated to begin at noon.