HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – South Carolina Beaufort won both ends of a doubleheader on Sunday, defeating Embry-Riddle 7-6 in 10 innings in game one and 11-3 in five innings in game two. With the losses, ERAU falls to 8-22 on the season and 3-7 in Sun Conference play, while USCB improves to 29-3 and 7-1 in conference games.
 
Game One – USCB 7, ERAU 6 (10 inn.)
 
After the Eagles stranded runners on first and second in the top of the first, C.J. Browder opened the scoring with a two-run shot to left, putting the Sand Sharks on top, 2-0. USCB added a third run in the third inning on an RBI double from Maddie Byrd.
 
ERAU got on the board in a big way in the fourth inning when Dee Espinosa cleared the bases with a two-out three-run double to knot things up at 3-3.
 
Taylor Triplett gave the Sand Sharks the lead again in the bottom of the fourth, driving home Missy Hughes with a two-out single to make the score 4-3 USCB. Hughes drove in a run herself the following inning, knocking in Shelby Zipperer with the fifth Sand Shark run.
 
Espinosa sparked the Eagles again in the sixth, driving in Ariel Brayer with an RBI double and then scoring on a single by Savannah Smith, tying the game once again, this time at 5-5.
 
The game remained tied at five through the regularly-scheduled seven innings. The Blue and Gold struck first in extra innings, taking a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth on a two-out solo home run from Espinosa. The homer moved Espinosa into the team lead in home runs with five, one more than Robi Zimmerman.
 
The Sand Sharks were down to their last out in the bottom of the eighth, but Browder's pop fly fell to the ground between Haleigh Lewis and Brayer in very shallow center field, allowing Katie Rietkovich to score the tying run. Alexis Estrada was able to strand the potential winning run at third base, sending the game to the ninth inning.
 
After both teams went 1-2-3 in the ninth, the international tiebreaker went into effect in the top of the 10th. Jessica Osteen advanced Lewis to third with a ground out, but Samantha Smith hit a soft grounder to the pitcher for the second out. On the first pitch to Brayer, Lewis broke for home on what appeared to be a squeeze play. But Brayer pulled back on the bunt attempt and Lewis was picked off trying to return to third base to end the inning.
 
USCB didn't do a good job moving the runner over to start the inning as each of the first two batters popped out. But Alexandria Simmons delivered a two-out game-winning base hit that scored pinch runner Ashlie Layman, giving the Sand Sharks a 7-6 win in 10 innings.
 
Zimmerman got the start and threw just one inning, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Estrada (6-8) took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on 14 hits in 8.2 innings of relief. She walked two, struck out four and hit one batter.
 
Espinosa went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and five RBIs. Huey, Osteen and Savannah Smith each finished 2-for-5. Alex Wood was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Kristy Cook started for the Sand Sharks and got a no-decision, pitching eight innings, giving up six runs on 12 hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Caitlin Campbell (8-3) pitched two perfect innings of relief with no walks or strikeouts to get the win.
 
Browder went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Triplett was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Mariaha Sanbord finished 3-for-5 with a double and Missy Hughes was 2-for-5 with a stolen base, run scored and RBI.
 
Game Two – USCB 11, ERAU 3 (5 inn.)
 
The Eagles put the first two runners on to start the game, but couldn't push across a run, leaving both runners stranded in the first inning. The Sand Sharks then capitalized on a pair of errors and a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning to score four times, taking a 4-0 lead after one.
 
A sac fly and a two-out RBI single tacked on two more runs for USCB in the second inning, increasing the Sand Shark lead to 6-0.
 
The Blue and Gold got on the board in the third inning with a pair of runs. Wood, Savannah Smith and Huey all singled to load the bases with one out. Zimmerman hit a grounder to short to score a run, and when the second baseman's throw sailed over the head of the first baseman attempting to turn the double play, Savannah Smith came home with the second run.
 
USCB bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the inning, scoring on an RBI triple, a wild pitch and a solo homer from Rietkovich to extend the lead to 9-2 after three innings.
 
ERAU stole a run in the fourth; Espinosa stole second and Chanley Burge came home with the third Eagle run when the catcher's throw got past the shortstop covering second base.
 
The Sand Sharks answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth when Sanborn doubled home Zipperer to move the score to 10-3 after four.
 
South Carolina Beaufort ended the game early by virtue of the eight-run rule when Sam Boland singled home Rietkovich, giving USCB an 11-3 win in five innings.
 
Zimmerman (2-11) pitched a complete game for the Eagles, going 4.1 innings, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits and four walks with no strikeouts, one hit batter and three wild pitches. Savannah Smith and Wood each finished 2-for-2 while Huey and Osteen each went 2-for-3.
 
Layman (6-0) threw all five innings for USCB, giving up three runs (two earned) on 10 hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Rietkovich finished 1-for-2 with a home run, walk, two runs scored and two RBIs. Simmons went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored while Whitley Martin was 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.
 
The Eagles return to action next Saturday, Apr. 13 when they travel to Ave Maria for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.