Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 LAKELAND, Fla. – Before today, University of South Carolina Beaufort softball was undefeated in The Sun Conference, but the Fire changed that with a sweep of the Sand Sharks on senior day.
Sam Silver and Kaleigh Mullenix were honored as Fire seniors between a 5-4 victory and an 8-1 win to complete the sweep.
In game one, Southeastern took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Cat Maldonado homer that crossed Brittany LaCasse who hit a double down the left field line in her first at bat.
The Sand Sharks took a one run lead in the top of the second on four hits, but the Fire matched their efforts in the bottom to regain the lead, 5-3.
With two outs, Annie Weaver hit an RBI single over the shortstop's head then Maldonado hit a two run single to left for the second and third runs of the inning.
Two scoreless innings followed before the Sand Sharks came within one in the top of the fifth.
The score remained 5-4 in the top of the seventh where the Fire found themselves with the tying run on third, the go-ahead run on first and no outs. A ground out, a fly out, and a pop out later, the Fire handed the Sand Sharks their first TSC loss.
Susan Hinks powered through all seven innings and moved to 16-5 on the season. She struck out five and gave up four runs on five hits.
Game two began in a similar fashion with a 2-0 Fire lead after one with both RBI's attributed to Anna Martin on her single to center field.
The Fire scored their remaining six runs in the bottom of the second. With no outs and bases loaded, Maldonado sent a two run single to right to cross the first two. The Fire managed to load the bases again for Sam Gale who sent a sky high bomb over the left field fence for a grand slam and her only hit of the day.
Down 8-0 heading into the top of the fifth, the Sand Sharks had no choice but to score at least one run to keep their chances alive and they did just that. They crossed a single run on two hits and an error to force another inning, but failed to execute in their final two chances.
Maldonado earned the win and moved to 10-1 as she tossed all seven innings and gave up a single run on five hits. She was also a weapon at the plate going 6-for-6 with a home run and six RBI's.
The Fire will enjoy a lull in their schedule as they prepare to take on Northwood University on Friday in West Palm Beach, Florida at 1 and 3 p.m.
