JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team traveled to Edward Waters for a non-conference doubleheader. The Sand Sharks used a three-home run performance by Taelor Chang to take game one, 15-0, in a run-rule victory. In game two, USCB scored five runs in the first inning and secured a second straight shutout to complete the sweep.
The Sand Sharks improved to 14-6 on the season following the sweep.
GAME ONE
Taelor Chang led the way in the opener, hitting three home runs in three at-bats while driving in seven runs and scoring three times. Three other Sand Sharks recorded multiple RBIs, as Allie McCleer, Saria Simmons, and Tamiyah Whitlock each drove in two runs. Madison Murphy pitched a complete-game shutout in the win.
USCB wasted no time getting on the board. Simmons and Whitlock opened the game with walks before Chang launched her first home run, a three-run shot, to give the Sand Sharks a 3-0 lead. Emma Brinkman followed with a solo home run, going back-to-back with Chang.
Murphy worked around a base runner in each of the first two innings, keeping the score 4-0 in favor of the Sand Sharks. In the third inning, Chang added a solo home run to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Sand Sharks broke the game open in the fifth inning, entering the frame with a 5-0 lead before pushing across 10 runs. The scoring began with a Saria Simmons RBI double to left-center field that scored Margaret Griffin for a 6-0 advantage. Whitlock followed with an RBI single up the middle before Chang delivered her third home run of the game, a three-run blast, to make it 10-0.
USCB continued to add on as a Griffin RBI single to left field scored Brinkman for an 11-0 lead. McCleer hit a two-RBI single, and Simmons and Whitlock each drove in a run to cap the 10-run inning and extend the lead to 15-0.
Murphy sealed the victory with a perfect fifth inning, recording two flyouts and a groundout to complete the five-inning shutout.
GAME TWO
In the second game, USCB was led by Emma Jackson, who delivered a two-RBI, one-hit performance. Tamiyah Whitlock and Chloe Turner each had multi-hit games in the win. Cassie Brundage pitched a complete seven-inning shutout with four strikeouts.
All of the scoring in game two came in the first inning. The rally began with a walk and a stolen base before an RBI single by Chloe Turner gave USCB a 1-0 lead, carrying over momentum from game one.
With the bases loaded, Caleigh Eubanks added an RBI single to score Turner for a 2-0 advantage. Emma Reynolds followed with an RBI on a fielder's choice, scoring Chang to make it 3-0. Jackson capped the inning with a two-RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Sand Sharks threatened again in the second inning with two runners on but were held scoreless. Edward Waters also created a scoring opportunity with a walk and two stolen bases to put a runner on third, but Brundage worked out of the jam to keep them off the board.
Edward Waters loaded the bases in the third inning, but the USCB defense responded with a double play to escape the threat first getting the out at the plate before the second out to end the inning and hold the 5-0 lead.
The Sand Sharks closed out the 5-0 victory to complete the doubleheader sweep. On the day, USCB recorded two shutout wins and outscored Edward Waters 20-0.
USCB will open conference play at home with a series against Columbus State beginning March 7 at 1:00 p.m. with a doubleheader, followed by the series finale on Sunday.
