BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort Softball team closed out the Lowcountry Classic on Saturday afternoon, finishing 2-2 in the tournament after Carson-Newman won game one, 5-3, and Erskine College took game two in extra innings, 8-3.
USCB is now 5-3 on the season following the Lowcountry Classic's final two games.
GAME ONE:
In the opening game of the day, the Sand Sharks were led offensively by Tamiyah Whitlock with two hits, while Chloe Turner drove in two runs.
Madison Murphy pitched five innings, allowing two runs (both unearned) while striking out two and earning a no-decision.
The Sand Sharks were first on the board Saturday afternoon after two straight singles to start the bottom of the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, and Turner followed with a sacrifice fly to left field for the early 1-0 lead as Catharine Conway came across to score.
Murphy, just like in the first inning, worked around a double to keep the Eagles scoreless through two innings. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Sand Sharks until the offense broke through for two more runs in the third inning.
After a walk and a single to start the inning, Turner recorded a productive groundout that drove in a run. An error on the play allowed a second run to score, extending the lead to 3-0 over the Eagles.
Carson-Newman put two runners on base in the fourth inning, but Murphy worked around the jam to keep the Sand Sharks in front, 3-0. The Eagles got two runs back in the fifth inning to cut the Sand Sharks' lead to one. A walk and an error set up an RBI single for the Eagles' first run of the game, followed by another error that allowed their second run to score.
Carson-Newman took its first lead in the sixth inning after two straight singles and a walk loaded the bases before a two-RBI single put the Eagles ahead, 4-3. The final run of the inning scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3.
The Sand Sharks looked to answer and put two runners on base in the sixth, but a popup ended the inning. The Eagles would close out the 5-3 victory.
GAME TWO:
In the second game of the afternoon, the Sand Sharks were led by Catharine Conway at the plate with a three-hit performance while driving in one run. Tamiyah Whitlock and Taelor Change each recorded two hits.
Erskine struck first with a solo home run to left-center field for the early 1-0 lead over USCB. In the bottom of the inning, the Sand Sharks looked to respond with two straight singles and stolen bases by Whitlock and Conway. However, Erskine worked around the jam to maintain the 1-0 advantage.
The Sand Sharks worked around a double in the third inning as the game remained 1-0 until the fifth, when Erskine extended its lead to 3-0. After three singles to start the inning loaded the bases, a two-RBI double to center field pushed the Flying Fleet's lead to 3-0.
USCB answered with one run in the bottom of the inning. With a runner on third and two outs, Conway delivered an RBI single to left field to cut the deficit to 3-1.
After a perfect 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth, the Sand Sharks struck in the bottom half to tie the game at 3-3. Saria Simmons led off with a triple and later scored on an RBI single by Chloe Turner. MJ Stradinger added an RBI single to score Margaret Griffin, who pinch ran for Turner, tying the game.
The Sand Sharks loaded the bases, but Erskine kept the game tied at 3-3. USCB once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning looking for a walk-off win, but a popup sent the game to extra innings.
Erskine broke through in the top of the eighth inning, scoring five runs. A sacrifice fly gave the Flying Fleet a 4-3 lead, followed by a two-RBI double that extended the advantage to 7-3. One more run made it 8-3.
The Sand Sharks put two runners on base after a single by Conway, but Erskine worked around the threat to secure the 8-3 victory.
USCB will be on the road Tuesday afternoon against Mount Olive for a doubleheader before returning home to host the Sand Shark Invitational from Friday, February 20 through Sunday, February 22.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
