HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – Coastal Georgia split with University of South Carolina Beaufort in both teams' first conference doubleheader of the 2021 season. Coastal Georgia lost the first game 3-4 and won the second 9-3. The last time the two teams faced off was the final doubleheader of the 2020 season before Covid-19 halted the season.
Game One (Coastal Georgia 3, USCB 4)
Batting:
- Mary Waldron hit 2-3 at the plate in game one. She recorded one run and a double. In addition, Waldron also stole a base.
- Cevanna Wood also had a multi-hit game. She totaled two hits in three at-bats. She also recorded a walk.
- Bryce Peacock kept up her impressive offensiveness at the plate. She went 2-4 and scored one run. One of B. Peacock's hits was a triple, the first of her college career.
- Rori Rhodes and Melani Jones each contributed a hit.
Pitching:
- Hayley Dickerson put in 4.1 innings of work. She allowed three runs, all earned, on six hits and two walks. Dickerson struck out two of the 17 batters she faced.
- Elizabeth McGovern came in to pitch 1.2 innings of relief. She allowed two hits and a single unearned run. She faced eight batters and struck out one.
Recap:
Neither Coastal Georgia nor University South Carolina Beaufort scored in the first two innings. The Mariners were retired four up three down in the first and USCB three up three down in the first. Coastal Georgia added a second hit in inning two but was retired with one left on base. Dickerson handled USCB in three with a strikeout and two flyouts in the bottom of the second.
In the third Coastal Georgia put two baserunners on but were unable to capitalize again. The Sandsharks however, got on the board in the bottom of the third. Off of two hits, USCB was able to score two runs.
The Mariners responded in the fourth with a run of their own. B. Peacock kicked off the inning by singling up the middle and advanced to second on ground out from Rhodes. Hiley reached base on a USCB throwing error and B. Peacock moved to third. With runners on the corners, Jones singled to center field earning the first RBI of the game as Peacock scored. The Mariners would go on to load the bases but were retired at the plate for out three.
Both USCB and Coastal Georgia put one run up in the fifth and the sixth. In the top of the fifth, the Mariners earned one run off of one hit and left two on base. Wood started the inning off with a walk and then Lindsey Thomas came in to pinch run. B. Peacock recorded her second hit of the game, an RBI triple to score Thomas. This was Peacock's first triple of her collegiate career.
USCB also added a run in the bottom of the fifth off of three hits.
The Mariners tied the game up again in the sixth with another single run. Waldron singled to left field and quickly stole second. On a sacrifice bunt from Sarah Thinger, Waldron advanced to third and came home on a throwing error. The score was 3-3.
Not to be outdone, USCB put up a fourth run off of two hits and one Mariner error in the bottom of the sixth.
Coastal Georgia was unable to come up with a run to extend the game in the top of the seventh. The Sandsharks retired the side and won the first conference game of the season 3-4.
Game Two (Coastal Georgia 9, USCB 3)
Batting:
- Breanna Wells recorded three hits for the Mariners in game two against the Sandsharks. She recorded the most hits in a single-game on both teams. She went 3-4 at the plate and recorded two RBI. For good measure, she added 10 putouts at first base.
- Kayla Rowell also had a multi-hit game. She went 2-4 at the plate with one RBI to contribute to the Mariner victory.
- Also recording hits in game two were: Waldron, B. Peacock, Rhodes, Malarie Peacock, Jones, and Hiley.
Pitching:
- Ansley Bowen had the start for the Mariners and put in 4.0 innings of work. She allowed three runs, two of which were earned, off of five hits and three walks.
- B. Peacock took to the circle in game two and pitched 3.0 innings of relief. She allowed one hit and no runs. B. Peacock walked only one batter.
Recap:
The Mariner's offense came together in game two, and the Mariners scored nine runs. USCB got a jump on the Mariners, scoring all their runs in the bottom of the first inning. Off of three hits and a Mariner throwing error, the Sandsharks were able to take a 3-0 lead.
Coastal Georgia remained scoreless in the second and third but bounced back in the fourth and got on the board. Rowell kicked off the inning with a single to left field but was halted in a fielder's choice allowing Thinger to get on base. Thinger stole second and advanced home when Rhodes singled through the left side. Before Coastal Georgia could score again the Sandsharks retired the side.
Coastal Georgia put up four runs, taking their first lead of the day in the top of the fifth. Hiley started the offensive onslaught with a single through the left side, Jones stepped in to run. Waldron was hit by a pitch for the second time today and Jones advanced to second. B. Peacock laid down a phenomenal bunt. She made it to first and the base runners each took another base. With bases loaded, the Sandsharks made a pitching change. The new pitcher walked in a run, making the score 1-3, and kept the bases loaded. On a ground out from Rowell, Waldron scored. B. Peacock moved to third and scored on a throwing error. The score was tied 3-3. The fourth run was scored when Wood stole home.
The Mariners added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Wells hit an infield single to start the inning. Thomas came in to pinch run for Wells and stole second. M. Peacock grounded out to second base but Thomas advanced to third. Jones walked and also stole second. Waldron singled through the left side scoring Thomas and moving Jones to third. Jones came in on a wild pitch and the Mariners took a 7-3 lead.
Coastal Georgia added two more in the top of the seventh to extend their lead. Rowell singled through the left side and Gabi Merced pinch ran. Thinger bunted and Merced moved to second. Merced advanced to third on a fielder's choice from Rhodes. Rhodes stole second to put two in scoring position. On a single from Wells both Rhodes and Merced would score. The Mariners won 9-3.
Up Next:
The Mariners face Thomas University on the road this Saturday, March 20th at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
