MOUNT OLIVE, NORTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team split a Tuesday doubleheader against University of Mount Olive, earning a 10–0 run-rule victory in five innings in Game One before a late comeback bid fell short in a 5–4 Game Two loss.
USCB moves to 6–4 on the season following the split.
GAME ONE
The Sand Sharks were led by a complete-game shutout from Madison Murphy, her fourth win of the season. She struck out four in the five-inning victory.
Taelor Chang led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, scoring once and driving in five runs. Emma Reynolds added three RBIs, while Katelyn Boyette and Caleigh Eubanks each recorded multi-hit games.
USCB wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. In the first inning, a walk and a single set up a two-RBI double by Chang for an early 2–0 lead, with runners still on second and third. Reynolds followed with a three-run home run to left-center field, giving the Sand Sharks a commanding 5–0 advantage.
Mount Olive threatened with a runner in scoring position but was unable to break through as Murphy worked around the jam.
The Sand Sharks added to their lead in the second inning. After two stolen bases moved runners to second and third, Chloe Turner delivered an RBI single to left field.
Emma Brinkman followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 7–0, before two batters later, Chang struck again with a two-RBI double to right field, extending the lead to 9–0.
The score remained 9–0 until the fourth inning, when Chang delivered her third double of the game, scoring Brinkman to push the lead to 10–0.
Murphy continued to control the game in the circle, working around a hit in the final inning before inducing a groundout to secure the 10–0 shutout victory.
GAME TWO
In the second game, Catharine Conway, MJ Stradinger, Saria Simmons, and Caleigh Eubanks scored for the Sand Sharks, while Emma Brinkman recorded the RBI. Casey Cantwell pitched two scoreless innings, striking out one.
USCB looked to carry over momentum from Game One, loading the bases early in the first but were not able to score as it remained 0–0. The Sand Sharks broke through in the second inning when two walks set up a wild pitch that allowed Stradinger to score for a 1–0 lead.
Mount Olive responded in the bottom of the third. With runners on first and second, an RBI single tied the game, and another single up the middle gave the hosts a 2–1 advantage.
Mount Olive added three runs on four hits in the fourth inning, highlighted by an RBI double to left-center field and two RBI singles to extend the lead to 5–1.
USCB kept the deficit at four entering the seventh inning. The Sand Sharks loaded the bases with no outs, bringing the tying run to the plate.
An RBI groundout cut the score to 5–2, and a wild pitch followed by an error trimmed the deficit to 5–4 with the tying run on third base.
A groundout ended the comeback attempt and secured the split for Mount Olive and the Sand Sharks.
The Sand Sharks return home for six games this weekend, beginning with a Friday doubleheader at 2:00 p.m. against University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
