HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - To conclude a nine-game homestand, the USCB softball team battled but fell to North Greenville, 7-1 and 3-0, on Tuesday afternoon at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Daryn Miller - 2-for-3, two singles

Jazmin Ramirez - 1-for-3, double

Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-3, one RBI

Cierra Kinlaw - 2.2 innings, two hits, no runs, one walk, one strikeout

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

North Greenville scored a run in each of the first four innings to take the 4-0 lead. The Crusaders added three more runs in the fifth to take the 7-0 lead.

USCB struggled to score runners in the first four innings, as it left five runners on base - including leaving three on in the first inning. 

The Sand Shark offense eventually plated a run in the bottom of the fifth when Alte cracked a run-scoring single.

Down 7-1, USCB nearly scored runs in the sixth. Miller, Taylor VanHouse and Ramirez all reached base in the frame, but the trio were left on base.

The Sand Sharks weren't able to score in the seventh to fall, 7-1.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Emily Williams - six innings, eight hits, three runs, one walk, six strikeouts

Kinlaw - one inning, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts 

Haley Massenburg - 2-for-3, two singles

Taelor Chang - 1-for-3, double

Zinia Hampleton - 2-for-3, two singles

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

The first three innings went by fast, as it was a pitcher's duel in that stretch. Williams went toe-to-toe with NGU's starting pitcher. Williams only allowed one hit during that stretch, while the Crusaders' pitcher didn't allow a hit.

NGU was able to break through in the fourth with a pair of two-out, run-scoring hits. 

USCB broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth when Hampleton cracked a two-out single up the middle. 

The fifth inning had a lot of promise for the Sand Sharks, as Ramirez and Massenburg posted back-to-back, leadoff singles. However, the next three batters went down in order.

North Greenville tacked on an insurance run in the sixth to pull ahead by three, 3-0. 

However, USCB didn't cave with a pair of hits from Hampleton and Chang in the bottom of the sixth. However, the third out was recorded before they could touch home.

The Crusaders threatened to put the game out of hand, but Kinlaw came in relief and recorded three outs in the next four batters she faced.

Just like several innings in the game, USCB had a lot of promise when Massenburg and Tamiyah Whitlock posted singles, but they were left stranded in the three-run loss. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 8-18 overall

North Greenville - 12-12 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB will jump back into Peach Belt Conference play with a three-game road series at Flagler. The series begins on Saturday at 3 p.m. in St. Augustine, Fla.
 

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