HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) softball team closed out their three-game series with Lander with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. In game one, the Bearcats got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first inning before closing out a 6-1 victory. In game two, Lander responded with two four-run innings, claiming a 9-1 win to sweep the series.
USCB is now 15-11 on the season, with a 1-5 record in Peach Belt Conference play.
GAME ONE
In the first game of the day, USCB recorded two hits from Catharine Conway and Ashley Grieser. Conway drove in the Sand Sharks' lone run.
Lander struck first with an RBI double in the opening inning, taking a 1-0 lead after a hit batter. An error with a runner on second allowed the second run to score, followed by an RBI groundout for the third run of the inning. After a scoreless bottom of the first, the Sand Sharks got one run back in the second.
After the first two hitters reached safely, Conway grounded into a fielder's choice later in the inning, allowing Saria Simmons to score, making it 3-1 through two innings.
Lander answered in the third inning, with a leadoff double that eventually scored on an RBI single, extending their lead to 4-1. The Sand Sharks recorded a hit in the bottom half but could not score.
The Bearcats added another run in the fourth inning after a leadoff double scored on an error, making it 5-1.
In the sixth inning, Lander scored the final run of the game after a single and stolen base set up an RBI groundout, giving the Bearcats a 6-1 lead. USCB threatened in the sixth, loading the bases, but a pop-up ended the inning. The Sand Sharks had runners in the seventh, but a fielder's choice closed out the game, giving Lander the win in game one and securing the series for the Bearcats.
GAME TWO
In the second game, the Sand Sharks recorded hits from Catharine Conway and Saria Simmons, with Katelyn Boyette driving in a run.
The opening two innings were all pitching from the two sides as neither team were able to score.
Lander scored first in the third inning after an error allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base. She came around to score on an RBI single, giving Lander a 1-0 lead. Lander held the lead through the bottom of the inning, despite a Sand Sharks walk.
In the fourth inning, Lander broke through again with three runs. A leadoff walk and an error loaded the bases before a 2-RBI single brought in two runs. Another RBI single made it 4-0, and a double steal extended the lead to 5-0 through four innings.
The Sand Sharks got on the board in the sixth inning, as a walk and stolen base set up an RBI groundout from Simmons, making it 5-1.
Lander added four more runs in the seventh. A leadoff single scored on an RBI single to left field, followed by a groundout and another RBI single to make it 8-1. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch pushed the final score to 9-1. Lander closed out the series sweep with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
The Sand Sharks return home for a doubleheader on March 18 at Richard Gray Sports Complex, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. against Savannah State.
