HARDEEVILLE, S.C- Flagler College softball swept the University of South Carolina Beaufort in its Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Saturday at the Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Saints took game one 4-2, and game two 4-3.

Flagler improved to 21-9 overall and 6-2 in the Peach Belt. USC Beaufort fell to 13-14 overall and 1-10 in league play. The Saints and Sand Sharks will return tomorrow at noon to finish out the series.

In the opener, the Saints scored twice in the top of the seventh to break open a tie game. Sydney Stewart led off with a double to right-center. Emily Ricci followed with a single to left, and she took second base on the throw to third. A walk loaded the bases. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Cassidy Crump and Kyla Knier plated the two runs.

Jordan Sheets (8-3) went the distance in the circle and allowed one earned run on four hits. She struck out five batters and retired the last 10 batters she faced in a row. Sheets retired 10 batters on fly outs and six more on ground outs.

Stewart led the Saints going 3-for-4 as she was a home run shy of the cycle. She scored two runs. Ricci finished with a pair of singles, scored a run, and drove in two more.  

Cassie Brundage (6-3) came on in relief to start the seventh and allowed two runs on two hits to pick up the loss.

Jaci Coleman hit a double for the Sand Sharks.

In game two, Flagler took advantage of a couple of USCB errors in the sixth and scored a pair of unearned runs to again break a 2-all tie.

Knier led off the frame when she reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Mackenzie Smith followed by reaching on a throwing error by the Sand Sharks pitcher and that let Knier reach third. Rylee Konowalchuk's single to left scored Knier to put the Saints on top, 3-2. Paige Maseda's sacrifice fly to center scored the insurance run.

Flagler needed that run as Saria Simmons led off the home-half of the inning with a triple to right-center and scored on an errant throw. But that's all the Sand Sharks could get.

Rachel Hester (3-1) scattered 10 hits and allowed two earned runs with five strikeouts. She retired 10 batters on ground outs and five more on fly outs.

Stewart, Ricci, Hannah Smith, Knier, and Konowalchuk each hit a single.

Abigail Ramirez (2-5) surrendered two earned runs on five hits. She walked four and struck out four.

Coleman collected three singles and scored a run. Jaden Goodwin also finished with three singles and she drove in a run.  
  
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