LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -
Daryn Miller had a game-high three hits while driving in two runs and
Caylee Busbee allowed just one run over her five and two thirds innings of work to pick up the win to a score of 8-6, forcing a rubber match for the Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship.
Ashlyn Alte went 2-for-4 driving in two while
Mackenzie Freeman,
Amber Locasto,
Addie Reynolds and
Chloe Turner all recorded RBI's.
Cierra Kinlaw started for the Sand Sharks and got a no decision after working only two and third innings. The lefty gave up four earned runs while walking two and striking out just one.
USCB's bats stayed hot in the opening inning after Alte drove home Miller, putting the Sand Sharks up 1-0. Freeman drove in her fifth RBI of the tournament with a single up the middle. Reynolds walked with the bases loaded and Locasto drove in a run with a sac fly, giving USCB a 4-0 before Kinlaw entered the circle.
Kinlaw worked a scoreless first inning but Lea McFadden homered leading off the second, but the lefty ended the inning allowing just the lone run.
The Grizzlies kept the pressure on USCB, starting the inning with back-to-back infield singles. Two runs scored on Sydney Pelaez's double to the gap. McFadden singled up the middle to tie it at four and that's when Busbee was called in from the bullpen. Another run scored on the third infield single of the inning, but Kloey Goins was caught stealing for the second out before Busbee got the inning ended strikeout.
Chloe Turner tied the ballgame up in the fifth with a single to left and the Sand Sharks regained the lead after Miller lined out to right, scoring Reynolds. Georgia Gwinnett knotted the game in the bottom of the sixth with a steal of home.
Miller's stellar tournament continued in extras as the Sand Sharks center fielder laced an RBI single to left center, giving USCB a one-run lead in the eighth. She then stole second and scored on Alte's RBI base knock.
Busbee shutdown the Grizzlies in the eighth, striking out two in a scoreless frame.
USCB and Georgia Gwinnett square off in the finale this evening for the CAC Softball Championship.
