MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The St. Thomas University Softball team (16-6, 2-2 TSC) snagged a game for the 13^th ranked Sand Sharks of University of South Carolina Beaufort (22-5, 3-3 TSC) on Saturday afternoon from 'The Colonel.' Game one went in favor of the Sand Sharks with an early exit at 14-0 in five innings. The Bobcats battled back in game two to take a 5-3 victory and split the double-header.
 
Bobcat Starters: Melody Grafals (C), Gigi Santos (RF), Rebeka Ehrenthal (DP), Alliyah Sands (SS), McKenna Delaware (2B), Emily Santos (CF), Tyenna Colon (LF), Dayma Pla (1B), Sarah Descheene (3B), Jennifer Acevedo (SP)
 
Game One Notes:

• USCB jumped on the board early in the top half of the first to take a 4-0 lead.
• Grafals began the bottom half of the first with a base hit to right-center.
• The Sand Sharks the tacked on four more runs in the third to extend it to 8-0.
• The Bobcat struggled on the defensive end and allowed five more runs in the top of the fourth as USCB took a commanding lead of 13-0.
• In the bottom of the fifth STU went down in order and looked to put this one behind them and bounce back in game two.

 
Bobcat Starters: Grafals (C), G. Santos (LF), Sands (SS), Ehrenthal (DP), Delaware (2B), Santos (CF), Colon (RF), Spalding (SP), Descheene (3B), Pla (1B)
 
Game Two Notes:

• As the Bobcats looked to turn the page in game one, they did exactly and got on board first in game two.
• Grafals opened up with a single up the middle to start another game yet again with a base knock.
• G. Santos reached right behind her with a bunt single to the third baseman.
• A Sands sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position.
• With the perfect execution Ehrenthal to left field and scored Grafals from third. G. Santos was able to score on an error from the left fielder.
• This gave the Bobcats the early 2-0 lead.
• USCB answered in the top of the third scoring three runs of their own off a couple of STU errors to take the lead 3-2.
• St. Thomas regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
• Three back-to-back-to-back singles from Sands, Ehrenthal, and Alexis Castroman loaded them up with one away for pinch hitter Bailey Williams.
• Williams delivered off the bench with a base hit up the middle to bring home Sands and Ehrenthal who turned on the jets and scored from second to take a 4-3 lead.
• In the sixth, STU added an insurance run when Sands singled up the middle and brought home Grafals and ultimately solidify the victory at 5-3.
• Spalding was able to shut down the final four innings not allowing a run and only allowing three hits.

Box Score Notables:

• St. Thomas bounced back for 13 hits.
• Bobcats are 6-1 when recording double-digit hits.
• The bench went a successful 2-3 when pinch hitting and driving in two runs.
• The last time STU defeated a ranked team was against USCB in 2017 on April 8^th.

#MVBobcats

• R. Ehrenthal: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI
• A. Sands: 2-for-2, R, RBI
• B. Williams: 1-for-1, 2 RBI
• K. Spalding (5-2): WP 7 IP, CG, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 K

St. Thomas will be back on Wednesday night at 'The Colonel' to wrap up the home stand against Ave Maria University. First pitch is set at 5 p.m.