HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – After rain pushed their regular season finale to Sunday, April 26, Warner University softball team lost a pair of one run games to No. 18 University of South Carolina-Beaufort. The Sand Sharks took game one by a 2-1 score thanks to an eighth inning walk-off and then won game two 5-4.
Game one was tied 1-1 after the first four innings of a pitcher's duel between
Chelsie Valentine and the Sand Sharks' Kristy Cook.
Jessica Adams singled home Warner's first run in the fourth inning to tie the game.
After three straight scoreless innings, the two sides headed to the eighth inning still tied at 1-1. The Lady Royals put a runner on in their half of the inning, but could not bring in the go-ahead run. The Sand Sharks, however, scored the winning run in the bottom of the inning on a one-out single.
Valentine (10-5) pitched all 7.1 innings with eight hits and two runs allowed. She did not walk a batter and struck out five.
The Lady Royals scored one run on four hits in game one.
Melissa Costero was 1-for-4 and scored the lone Warner run.
In game two, the Lady Royals found themselves in a 5-1 hole after five complete innings.
Cynthia Micochero hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning to score Warner's first run.
After a scoreless sixth inning by both teams the Lady Royals came to bat in the seventh inning trailing by four.
Erika Shick started the comeback bid with a one out single. Three batters and one out later,
Jelisa Potter doubled down the left field line bringing in
Brittany Winget.
Jessica Adams followed with a single through the right side that scored two more runs to bring the Lady Royals to within one run 5-4. The rally ended there as the Sand Sharks recorded the final out stranding Adams on first base.
Winget (3-5) started in the circle for the Lady Royals and tossed all six innings. She scattered nine hits and five runs while striking out one batter.
Adams finished with two RBIs in the game while going 1-for-3 at the plate.
Kaitlyn Ficarrotta scored a run and was 1-for-3.
The Lady Royals return home to prep for finals and The Sun Conference Tournament. The tournament gets underway on Thursday, April 30, at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.
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