HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - After nearly upending a top-25 team in the country on Friday, the USCB softball team split with Carson-Newman and Concord, 11-2 and 6-5, on Saturday to end its action at the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational.  

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Ashlyn Alte - 2-for-3, two singles, one RBI

Mackenzie Freeman - 1-for-2, solo home run

Addie Reynolds - 1-for-3, double

Libby Carey - 2.2 innings, one run, one hit, one walk

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

After leaving two Sand Sharks on base in the top of the first, Carson-Newman didn't waste time opening the game by plating six runs in the first and four in the second. 

The Sand Sharks were able to scratch across a run in the top of the third via an Alte RBI single to make it 10-1.

After a 1-2-3 inning for CNU, USCB's first baseman Freeman blasted a solo shot to straight away center to pull within eight, 10-2.

Carson-Newman added a lone run in the bottom of the fourth and then limited USCB to one hit in the fifth to earn the run-rule win over USCB, 11-2. 

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Alte - 1-for-4, two-run homer

Zinia Hampleton - 2-for-3, two singles, one run

Amber Locasto - 1-for-2, two RBIs

Freeman - 1-for-4, two runs

Cierra Kinlaw - win, 4.2 innings, six hits, two runs, one walk, five strikeouts

Emily Williams - save, 1.2 innings, one hit, no runs, no walks, one strikeout

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

The first inning featured over half of the game's offense, as both teams plated three runs each. Concord had a three-run homer in the frame, while USCB's Alte cracked a two-run homer and Harlee Walker added in a run-scoring single.

Moving to the third, USCB's offense put up another trio of runs to take its first lead of the afternoon, 6-3. Freeman touched home via a Concord error, and Locasto contributed a bases-loaded single to push two across and make the contest 6-3. 

Concord tried to claw its way back into the contest and was able to plate one in the fourth and one in the sixth to make it a one-run game, 6-5. 

Concord tried to mount a rally in the top of the seventh with a one-out double, but Williams stayed poised en route to earning her first save of the year. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 5-4 overall

Concord - 1-7 overall

Carson-Newman - 4-4 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

After nine non-conference games to start the 2023 season, USCB will open Peach Belt Conference action with a three-game road trip to North Georgia from Feb. 25-26.