Box Score
HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – Sloppy play led to a six-run deficit for the University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team Sunday at Richard Gray Sports Complex.
But it also led to the Sand Sharks' biggest comeback victory so far this season.
After trailing 6-0 through 3 ½ innings, USCB came all the way back for a 9-7 victory, finishing a three-game sweep of Milligan (Tenn.). The Sand Sharks have swept their past two home series after taking four straight from Mid-Continent (Ky.) last week.
The Buffaloes (0-3) jumped out to a 6-0 lead against USCB starter
Caleb Daniels, pulling away with four runs in the fourth, the last two unearned because of a dropped fly ball in shallow right field.
It seemed that might be enough of a cushion for Milligan starter Justin Johnson, who did a nice job of wiggling out of jams to keep the Sand Sharks at bay. But the junior right-hander suffered an elbow injury with two outs in the fifth and had to leave the game.
With Johnson out of the game, the Sand Sharks (8-2) began to chip away against Milligan's bullpen, and they finally took their first lead in the seventh.
Pinch hitter
Brandon Collins cut the deficit to 7-6 with a two-run single through the right side, and
David O'Neil dumped a two-run double down the right-field line – his third hit of the day – to give USCB the lead.
The rally made a winner of sophomore left-hander
Alex Graham (2-1), who allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. Senior left-hander
Colton Rudd worked around a one-out walk in a scoreless ninth for his first save.
The Sand Sharks have five days off before a four-game weekend series with Fisher (Mass.) College, which opens its season with noon doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. USCB leads the all-time series with the Falcons 11-1 and swept a four-game series last season.
