HARDEEVILLE, SC- The USCB baseball team took their sixth win of the young season defeating nationally ranked Embry Riddle by the score of 4-1 in the first game of a three game set on Friday at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex. The Sand Sharks rode a masterful performance from starting hurler Adam Miller to run their over-all record to 6-1 and 3-0 in Sun Conference play.
 
Miller pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up only two hits to earn his second win of the season. Kyle McCullough came on in relief of Miller in the seventh inning with two on base and gave up a sacrifice fly as the visiting Eagles scored their only run. McCullough pitched a strong eighth frame before giving way to closer Andres Castro who shut down Embry Riddle in the ninth. 

Embry Riddle starter Justin Zinkovich, the Sun Conference pitcher of the year in 2009, had allowed only one hit through the first four innings, but in the bottom of the fifth, the Sand Sharks got things rolling. Brandon Cooksey led off the inning with a double. Following a Clay Bonds sacrifice bunt, Larry Perry and David O'Neil produced running scoring singles to give USCB a 2-0 lead. Centerfielder RJ Neal then tripled to drive home O'Neil. Brandon Collins single to right brought home Neal for the fourth and final Sand Shark run of the inning. 

The Sand Sharks will play Embry Riddle again on Saturday in a double header starting at noon at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex in Hardeeville. There will also be a pregame Homecoming ceremony for past USCB students at 10:30 while the 2010 King and Queen will be crowned between games.