Big Inning Costs Fire Softball at USCB

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. — A four-run first inning helped USC Beaufort win the first game of a three-game set Friday by the count of 4-1.
The Sand Sharks scored four runs on five hits in the first inning to move to 21-14.
Taking away that inning, Lindsie Scholwinski held USCB scoreless and to four hits in the final five innings.
Abby Pac held the Fire bats in check, picking up her 13th win of the season, striking out nine. She retired the first eight hitters she saw, and didn’t allow a hit until Cheyenne Blaha’s one-out single through the left side.
The Fire were able to capitalize on their first hit in the top of the fourth on Brandee Pietrzak’s two-out double to left to score Blaha.
In the fifth, SEU had runners at first and second with no outs after Natalie Hughes was hit by a pitch and Cat Maldonado singled to right. A bunt, strikeout, and groundout kept the Fire from adding any runs.
Blaha had her team-high second hit of the game in the sixth, but Pac struck out the next three hitters.
The two teams will face off in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.