BEAUFORT, S.C. (Feb. 22, 2019) – The No. 20 Truett McConnell University softball team traveled to University of South Carolina Beaufort for another nonconference doubleheader. The Lady Bears dropped games one and two to the Sand Sharks, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA national top 25 (8-6, 3-0).

TMU fell to 9-3 on the year while the Sand Sharks won their 12th straight game to remain perfect (12-0).

GAME ONE

Right off the bat, the Sand Sharks scored three runs in the first and another in the second (4-0). The Lady Bears, however, scored three runs of their own in the top of the third which featured two doubles to center field by junior Jaden Morrison and senior Sara Sullivan (4-3).

USCB was capable of increasing their lead with two more runs in the fourth to lead by three (6-3). Nonetheless, freshman Briley Lawson homered to put the Lady Bears back in the game (6-6) but it proved not enough as the Sand Sharks ran home two more times in the bottom of the fifth to secure their first win of the day (8-6).

LEADERS

Sophomore Kathrine Kozlowski went 2-for-3 while Lawson went 2-for-4. Sullivan tallied two RBI's. Junior Bethany Hyde was handed her first loss of the season after allowing three earned runs (5-1).

GAME TWO

The Sand Sharks scored their first run of the game in the second inning and their final two in the sixth (3-0). The closest TMU got to scoring was in the top of the fourth with runners on second and third and just one out. In fact, the Lady Bears outhit USCB by two (9-7).

LEADERS

Morrison went 2-for-2 while Kozlowski went 2-for-3. Kaitlynn Johnson, Sullivan, Lawson, Kataryna Fuller and Macey Dunaway all connected for a hit.

Freshman Sydney Blackmon made her debut pitching a complete game. Blackmon struck out three, walked two and allowed seven hits.

UP NEXT

The Lady Bears have a quick turnaround as they face College of Coastal Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 12:00 p.m. (DH).