Head Baseball Coach Jeremy Christian and the baseball staff at USCB have announced the 2018 spring baseball schedule.  The Sand Sharks begin the season at home on February 2, when they play host to the visiting Buffaloes of Milligan College.
 
"This will be a very challenging season for our baseball program," said Christian."The only way we can grow our program into a national contender is to consistently play the best competition, and I feel we have put our program in position to do that this season."  In fact, the Sand Sharks will compete against six opponents currently ranked in the NAIA top 25 poll.

"Our conference schedule is always tough, and we've added some non-conference games that are designed to really challenge us.  We added five games with NCAA Division II teams, and in all, six of our opponents advanced to the NAIA World Series Opening Round in 2017.  Hopefully this level of competition will help prepare us for a deep post-season run."
 
The Sand Sharks open the spring season when Milligan College visits Hardeeville on February 2 for a three game series.

"Coach Meade and his staff run a really good program at Milligan. I've played Coach Meade every year I've been a head coach, and I'm excited to keep this tradition going. They play a really tough schedule, are consistently battling in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, and are very similar in playing style as we are. I couldn't't think of a better test to start the season."

USCB spends the rest of February with non-conference battles against NCAA Division II teams Paine College and Benedict College, as well as NAIA stalwarts Middle Georgia State College and St. Andrews University. February also marks the beginning of Sun Conference play with home dates against Keiser and Florida Memorial, as well as a visit to Lakeland to take on the Fire of Southeastern.

"February will really test our mental and physical make up. We battle three top 25 teams, Keiser at home and both Middle Georgia and Southeastern on the road, and I firmly believe all three will be competing in the Opening Round at the end of the season. We will play some of our most difficult baseball within the first four weeks of our season and will be an outstanding challenge for our young men."

March welcomes non-conference dates with Stillman, Fisher, Brewton Parker, Edward Waters and a return trip from Middle Georgia.  The Sand Sharks continue TSC play by traveling to both Warner and St. Thomas, before a visit by the Night Hawks of Thomas University on March 30.

"Stillman recently transitioned from NCAA Division II and we had a very competitive series with them last year. They knocked off a hand full of World Series teams last year and we look forward to hosting them here this season. As for conference play, Warner and Thomas continue to improve and St. Thomas will contend again for the TSC championship. This conference is tough from top to bottom and you must be ready to play for a full 27 innings. If you take a pitch off you can lose the weekend."

The Fighting Saints of the College of St. Joseph visit the Richard Gray Sports Complex for a four game series to jump start April, followed by return matchups with Benedict, Edward Waters, Brewton Parker and St. Andrews.  The Sand Sharks finish TSC Play with a trip to Ave Maria before hosting Webber International in the conference finale on April 20^th.  USCB will conclude the regular season with a trip to Lawrenceville, GA, and a three game battle against the 12^th ranked Grizzlies of Georgia Gwinett on April 28^th.

"April is always a tough month as we prepare to finish the season and get ready for the TSC tournament. We look forward to playing St. Joseph again as they finished 2017 with a USCAA National Championship and recently made the move to the NAIA. Webber had a great year last year and returns a lot of their team, while Ave had some great young talent and now a new coaching staff so I expect them to continue their rise within the league."

The Sun Conference tournament is set to begin on May 3^rd, followed by the NAIA World Series Opening Round on May 14^th, and the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, ID on May 24^th. 

The Sand Sharks finished the 2017 campaign with a 32-22 record, and a 13-11 record in TSC play.

You can find the complete 2018 schedule here.