HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team closed out its season series against Edward Waters on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep. The Sand Sharks secured the season sweep with two dominant victories, winning game one 12–2 and game two 13–2. USCB used a seven run first inning to control the first game of the afternoon before eight runs in the first two innings of game two to jump out early in both wins.
With the wins, the Sand Sharks improve to 23–16 on the season. The doubleheader sweep completes a four-game season sweep over the Tigers.
GAME ONE:
In the opening game, the Sand Sharks were led offensively by Saria Simmons, Chloe Turner, and Emma Reynolds, who each drove in two runs. Five other players contributed one RBI apiece. Simmons and Catharine Conway each recorded a team-high two hits.
Cassie Brundage earned the win with a complete-game performance, pitching five innings and striking out five.
Edward Waters struck first, as both teams scored in the opening inning. A leadoff walk followed by a double set up runners on second and third before a sacrifice fly brought in the game's first run for a 1–0 lead.
USCB responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After a one-out walk and stolen base by Tamiyah Whitlock, Chloe Turner delivered a two-RBI single to left-center field, giving the Sand Sharks a 2–1 lead. Caleigh Eubanks added another RBI to make it 3–1.
The inning continued as Emma Reynolds drove in two runs with a single up the middle, extending the lead to 5–1. Emma Brinkman followed with an RBI single, and Simmons capped the seven-run inning with a bases-loaded walk.
USCB added to its lead in the second inning, as Katelyn Boyette scored on a wild pitch to make it 8–1.
Edward Waters scored once in the third after an error led to an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 8–2. USCB threatened in the bottom of the inning but left the bases loaded.
In the fourth, the Sand Sharks added four more runs. After walks and singles loaded the bases, Conway drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by another walk to extend the lead to 10–2. Simmons added an RBI single, and Avery Alexander forced in a run with a walk to make it 12–2.
Brundage closed out the game in the fifth, highlighted by a diving catch from Whitlock to secure the victory.
GAME TWO
Chloe Turner and Katelyn Boyette led the offense in game two with three hits each. Boyette recorded a team-high five RBIs, while Taelor Chang and Caleigh Eubanks added two RBIs apiece. Turner scored three runs, and three other players scored twice.
Kiley Fisher earned her first win of the season, pitching a complete game with three strikeouts.
Fisher set the tone early with back-to-back strikeouts to open the game. In the bottom of the first, Conway singled and later scored on an RBI single by Simmons. Chang followed with a two-RBI single, and Boyette added another two-RBI hit to give USCB a 5–0 lead after one inning.
Both teams scored in the second inning. Edward Waters plated a run on an RBI single, but USCB answered with three runs of its own. After Conway walked she then stole her second. This stolen base broke the USCB school record for the most stolen bases in a season. Chang drove in a run, and Boyette added two more RBIs to extend the lead to 8–1 following her second 2-RBI single.
After a scoreless third inning, the Sand Sharks broke the game open with five runs in the fourth. Turner drove in a run with a single, Boyette added her fifth RBI, and Eubanks delivered a two-RBI double. Conway capped the inning with an RBI to make it 13–1.
Edward Waters added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, but Fisher sealed the win with a strikeout, completing the sweep.
The Sand Sharks return home this weekend for a three-game conference series against Middle Georgia State. The series begins Saturday, April 11, with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader and concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
