HARTSVILLE, S.C. - To conclude the non-conference portion of the 2023 season, the USCB softball team battled but fell to Coker, 6-2 and 12-4, on Tuesday at Saleeby Stokes Field. 

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Addie Reynolds - 2-for-3, double, one RBI

Ashlyn Alte - 1-for-2, solo homer

Caitlin Toole - 0.2 innings, no runs, no hits, no walks

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

The Sand Shark offense worked quickly to start the non-conference doubleheader by plating a two-out run. Harlee Walker and Alte walked to start the rally, and Reynolds made the Cobras pay with a double to bring home Walker.

The Cobras answered in the bottom of the first with a trio of runs to take the two-run lead.

After both teams went 1-2-3 in the second, Alte blasted a solo shot to make it a one-run game, 3-2.

Like they did in the first, the Cobras answered with a two-RBI double to push the game to 5-2.

The next two innings featured a lot of traffic on the base paths with no runs scoring, but in the bottom of the sixth, Coker added an insurance run off a sacrifice fly.

USCB couldn't muster more runs in the four-run loss, 6-2.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Alte - 2-for-3, two singles, two RBIs

Haley Massenburg - 2-for-2, double, one RBI, one run

Chloe Turner - 1-for-3, double, one RBI, one run

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

Coker was able to take the lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly, but two frames later, USCB took its first lead of the contest with three runs in the third.

Turner cracked a RBI double to left, and Alte followed with a two-RBI knock to push the lead to two, 3-1.

The lead disappeared in the home half of the inning when the Cobras plated a trio of runs on four hits. 

After Coker let up another run in the fourth - a Massenburg RBI double - Coker went on an eight-run, unanswered stretch to run-rule the Sand Sharks, 12-4. 

RECORDS UPDATE

USCB - 11-38 overall

Coker - 20-22 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks will conclude their regular season with a Peach Belt Conference series from April 22-23 at Richard Gray Stadium. USCB will host Georgia College for three games in Hardeeville, S.C.