HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team swept a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader against Coker, earning a two-game sweep over the Cobras. In game one, Madison Murphy pitched a complete-game shutout to win a pitcher's duel, 3-0. The Sand Sharks completed the sweep in dramatic fashion in game two, as Ashley Grieser delivered a walk-off double to secure the victory.
The Sand Sharks improve to 12-4 on the season following the sweep and the team's sixth straight win.
GAME ONE:
Offensively, the Sand Sharks were led by Saria Simmons, who finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Taelor Chang and Chloe Turner each added an RBI in the win. Madison Murphy pitched her fourth complete-game shutout of the season, striking out nine Coker hitters.
The opener was a pitcher's duel early on. After allowing a leadoff single, Murphy struck out back-to-back hitters to close the inning.
Through three innings, Murphy had recorded seven of the team's nine outs by strikeout, and the score remained 0-0 heading into the bottom of the third.
USCB broke through in the third inning when Simmons singled up the middle and later scored on an RBI single by Chang to give the Sand Sharks a 1-0 lead. Murphy kept USCB in front in the fourth, striking out one batter before Emma Brinkman threw out a runner attempting to steal to end the inning.
In the fifth, the Sand Sharks extended their lead. Simmons led off with a single and stole second before Turner drove her in with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
USCB added an insurance run in the sixth when Simmons hit an RBI double to score Ashley Grieser for a 3-0 advantage heading into the final inning.
Coker managed a single in the seventh, but Murphy recorded her ninth strikeout of the game on the final out to seal the 3-0 victory for the Sand Sharks for her second straight seven inning shutout.
GAME TWO:
In the second game, USCB's offense was powered by four players who recorded two hits each: Tamiyah Whitlock, Chloe Turner, Avery Alexander, and Ashley Grieser. Grieser and Turner led the team with two RBIs apiece, while Simmons scored twice.
Cassie Brundage earned her third win of the season in relief, tossing 4 1/3 innings and striking out one.
Coker struck first, scoring in each of the first four innings. The Cobras took a 1-0 lead in the first after a lead off walk and stolen base set up an RBI single. They added two more runs in the second, highlighted by a lead off double that later scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
The Sand Sharks responded in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Turner delivered an RBI single to score McKendree Davis for USCB's first run. Chang followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Coker capitalized on a two-out error in the third, plating three runs to extend its lead to 6-2.
USCB chipped away in the fourth. Alexander led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Grieser. Later in the inning, Simmons drove in Grieser with an RBI single to trim the deficit to 6-4, before Coker was able to escape further damage.
The comeback continued in the fifth when Emma Reynolds led off with a double and later scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by MJ Stradinger to make it 6-5.
USCB tied the game in the sixth after Simmons drew a walk and stole second before Turner delivered an RBI double to even the score at 6-6.
After a scoreless top of the seventh, the Sand Sharks carried their momentum into the bottom half. Katelyn Boyette led off with a single, setting the stage for Grieser, who hit an RBI double to score Boyette and give USCB a 7-6 walk-off victory.
The sweep marks the sixth straight win for the Sand Sharks.
USCB returns to action Friday afternoon for a doubleheader against Newberry beginning at 2 p.m. in Newberry, South Carolina.
