HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - In exciting, walk-off fashion, the USCB softball team collected history on Saturday, as the Sand Sharks collected their first Peach Belt Conference win over USC Aiken, 6-5. Ashlyn Alte provided the game-winning at-bat in game one, as the Sand Sharks settled for a split with the Pacers to open a three-game series at Richard Gray Stadium.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Alte - 1-for-3, homer, three RBIs, one run
Addie Reynolds - 2-for-2, homer
Tristen Norris - pinch-hit solo homer
Reghan Steifle - three innings, five hits, two earned runs, one strikeout
Cierra Kinlaw - three innings, three hits, two runs, one strikeout
Caitlin Toole - one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
After a scoreless first, USC Aiken provided the game's first run via a solo homer.
Just an inning later, Alte smacked a two-run blast to right center to give USCB its first lead of the day, 2-1.
Aiken retook the lead in the top of the fourth, 3-2, but USCB tied it back up in the home half of the same frame when Reynolds lifted a leadoff blast to tie the game.
The Sand Sharks retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Norris came in the pinch hit for Taylor VanHouse. Norris poked a solo homer over the right-center field fence to pull ahead by one, 4-3.
After both teams combined for three runners left on base in the sixth, USCA, again, regained the lead with back-to-back homers to start off the inning.
Despite being down one run, USCB didn't cave. Daryn Miller singled to the pitcher, and Jaci Coleman followed with the game-tying triple. After a defensive change, Alte put a ball in play, and Coleman touched home to give USCB the win, 6-5.
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Alte - 1-for-3, double, one RBI
Coleman - 1-for-2, double, one run
Emily Williams - three innings, four hits, one run, four strikeouts
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
The second game wasn't as back-and-forth as game one, as the Pacers scored early and often in the first four innings, by taking a 5-0 lead after three-and-a-half innings.
USCB was able to plate one in the bottom of the fourth when Alte scored Coleman on a RBI double.
After scoreless fifth and sixth frames, USCA's offense erupted for six runs off five hits to take the commanding 11-1 lead.
The Sand Sharks were able to put two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but they were left stranded in the loss.
RECORDS UPDATE
USCB - 8-15 overall, 1-7 PBC
USC Aiken - 9-17 overall, 3-5 PBC
WHAT'S NEXT?
USCB and USCA will conclude the three-game series on Sunday with a single game. The contest is slated to begin at 11 a.m. at Richard Gray Stadium.
