ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - To begin a brief five-game road swing, the USCB softball team showed a lot of grit on Friday at Flagler but ultimately fell to the Saints, 4-1 and 3-2 (eight innings), at Flagler Field. 

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Addie Reynolds - 2-for-3, two singles

Mackenzie Freeman - 1-for-3, double

Tamiyah Whitlock - 1-for-3, one run

Emily Williams - six innings, four hits, three earned runs, three strikeouts

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

After stranding two Sand Sharks on base in the top of the first, Flagler's offense went to work by scoring all of their runs in the bottom of the first. The Saints had two run-scoring hits as well as an error to yield to all four Saint runs to take the 4-0 lead. 

The Sand Sharks showed a lot of promise in the top of the fourth when Reynolds and Freeman posted leadoff hits to put Sand Sharks in scoring position. However, three groundouts left them stranded. 

Moving to the fifth, USCB broke onto the scoreboard thanks to two hits and a Flagler error. Whitlock reached base via a single and swiped second. After an out, Jaci Coleman put the ball in play, which allowed Whitlock to score thanks to a FC error. 

From the second inning-on, Williams was dominant in the circle for USCB. She forced three straight 1-2-3 innings before allowing just one hit in the fifth. The freshman worked another 1-2-3 sixth inning in her start for USCB. 

Despite the strong outing from Williams, the four-run first inning for Flagler was too much for USCB to overcome, as the Sand Sharks dropped game one, 4-1. 

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Coleman - 3-for-4, double, two singles

Ashlyn Alte - 2-for-3, two singles

Whitlock and Harlee Walker - one single and one run each

Cierra Kinlaw - 6.1 innings, seven hits, two runs, no walks, six strikeouts

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

The first three innings had little promise from either team's offenses. The fourth frame had the most, as both teams collected a hit in the inning. However, neither team was able to break the scoreless tie. 

Flagler was able to break that stretch in the fifth with a single run, which came with two outs. 

USCB's offense turned in a long inning in the sixth via three hits and a Flagler error. Walker and Whitlock started the frame with back-to-back singles, and Walker eventually touched home on a throwing error. Miller gave USCB's first lead of the day, 2-1, with a sacrifice fly.

After Flagler worked out a jam in the top of the seventh, the Saints recorded one run in the bottom of the seventh to force extras, tied 2-2. 

The Saints shut down USCB in the top of the frame and made quick work in the bottom of the eighth, as the game-winning run was scored on a wild pitch. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 8-20 overall, 1-10 Peach Belt

Flagler - 11-15 overall, 6-5 Peach Belt

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB and Flagler conclude the three-game series tomorrow in St. Augustine. A time has not officially been confirmed, as the incoming weather will affect that decision.