HARDEEVILLE, SC- The USCB baseball team outlasted a comeback attempt by the visiting team from Savannah College of Art and Design to win a thriller, 9-7, in a Sun Conference battle on Friday at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex in Hardeeville. With a 9-6 lead going to the top of the ninth inning, Sand Sharks relief pitcher, Kyle McCullough overcame a bases loaded, no outs situation, retiring the final three SCAD he faced to lock down a comeback win for USCB.
The visiting Bees took control early scoring two runs in the top of first, another in the second, and pair of others in their half of the fourth, to take a commanding 5-0 lead off Sand Sharks starter Jared Campbell. Meanwhile, SCAD's Joe Kase was cruising through the first three innings without allowing a hit. The Sand Sharks then picked up three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, RJ Neal was hit by a pitch and TJ Kemp walked. Zack Rossetti responded with a single down the right field line to drive in Neal with the first USCB run of the game. Designated hitter, Jeremy Webb then doubled to drive in Kemp. Jon Schmidt hit a sacrifice fly to left to plate Rossetti.
The Sand Sharks erupted for six runs in the bottom of the seventh on seven hits. Singles by Neal and Kemp followed by a three run home run by Rossetti, gave USCB a 6-5 lead. But the home team was not done yet as Webb and Schmidt singled and DeShonty Berry blasted a long bomb of his own to give the Sand Sharks a 9-5 advantage.
Brock Wooten came on in relief of Campbell in the sixth completely shutting the door on the Bees for two innings. After a SCAD single, a walk, and a throwing error produced a run for SCAD in their half of the eighth, Wooten gave way to McCullough who got out of the inning without any further damage and set up the climatic and thrilling finish in the ninth.
Wooten picked up his fifth win of the year against only one loss while McCullough came up big in the end to secure his fifth save.
The win gives the Sand Sharks a 32-18 record over-all in their first season and are 13-9 in conference play. SCAD now stands at 33-18 and are 15-7 in Sun Conference action. Both teams will conclude their regular seasons with a doubleheader on Saturday at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00pm.
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