MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.--The Hood College softball team split two games on the first day of its Spring Break trip to Myrtle Beach Monday.

The Blazers opened with an 8-5 win over Russell Sage but followed with an 8-1 loss to Utica.

In their first game of the day, the Blazers (3-3) built a 7-1 lead after two innings and held off a late charge by the Gators (0-1).

Freshmen Kara Robert and Mandi Lambert had RBI singles as part of Hoodýs four-run first inning, and Robert and sophomore Jen Guyer added run-scoring hits in a three-run third.

Senior Jen Jones scored on an error in the sixth to give Hood an 8-1 cushion, but the Gators tallied three runs in the bottom of the inning to pull to within 8-5 and threatened again in the seventh, putting runners on first and second with one out.

However, Hood junior Tamara Maggard induced a line out and a ground out to seal the victory.

Maggard allowed six hits and three earned runs to pick up her second complete-game win of the season. She struck out seven and walked seven.

She also helped her own cause at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base.

Robert went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.

In game two, Utica took advantage of a Hood error to score three times in the top of the first and Ashley Curley stymied the Blazer offense from there, allowing just four singles in a complete-game effort.

The Pioneers scored another run in the second before the Blazers got on the board with a run-scoring single by Lambert in the bottom half of the inning.

Utica blew the game open with three more runs in the sixth and tacked on another in the seventh.

Robert went the distance for Hood, allowing 14 hits and four earned runs.

The Blazers return to action Tuesday when they face Pikeville at 9:30 a.m. and Hilbert at 11:30 a.m.