HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team continued play in the Sand Shark Invitational on Saturday afternoon against the Virginia Union Panthers. The Sand Sharks scored in five different innings to secure a 5-0 victory behind a complete-game shutout from Madison Murphy.
USCB improved to 8-4 on the season after earning two victories to open the invitational.
Murphy pitched her fourth complete game of the season and third shutout of the year, striking out 10 batters in the win.
Katelyn Boyette led the offense with a 4-for-4 afternoon, scoring one run and driving in two. Tamiyah Whitlock added a 3-for-3 performance with a walk, reaching base safely in all four plate appearances. Ashley Grieser was also perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
The Sand Sharks struck first with two singles and a hit batter in the opening inning to load the bases, setting up a Boyette RBI single for the early 1-0 lead. Virginia Union escaped further damage to keep the score at 1-0.
Murphy delivered a perfect top of the second inning with two strikeouts and added two more in the third to keep USCB in front.
In the third inning, the Sand Sharks loaded the bases for the third time after Taelor Chang reached base, followed by two singles. Grieser delivered an RBI single to score Chang and extend the lead to 2-0.
USCB continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning. After Whitlock drew a walk and stole second to move into scoring position with no outs, Boyette drove in another run with an RBI double to give the Sand Sharks a 3-0 advantage.
Virginia Union put a runner in scoring position following a stolen base, but Murphy recorded two more strikeouts to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard.
In the fifth inning, Chloe Turner lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Grieser and push the lead to 4-0.
USCB added its final run in the sixth inning when Boyette stole second and later scored on a Panthers error.
Murphy closed out the shutout in the top of the seventh inning, striking out her 10th and final batter to seal the shutout victory.
The final day of the Sand Shark Invitational is scheduled for Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m., when UNC Pembroke faces Virginia Union. The Sand Sharks will follow with a 1:00 p.m. matchup against the Panthers.
