HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team fell just short of an almost unimaginable comeback victory Sunday, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before leaving the bases loaded in a 10-9 loss to Northwood (Fla.).
 
The Sand Sharks (25-12, 12-6 Sun Conference) took the first two games of the Sun Conference series and ended the weekend in second place in the league standings, four games behind Embry-Riddle and a half-game ahead of St. Thomas.
 
The prospect of a three-game sweep seemed unlikely for most of the day, as the Seahawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead and USCB had a tough time solving left-hander J.D. Tyler.
 
Tyler allowed three runs on eight hits over 8 1-3 innings, the last two runs charged to him scoring after he left the game.
 
But when the Seahawks' starter finally ran out of steam, the Sand Sharks rallied against the bullpen. They scored eight runs in the inning and had the tying run at third and the winning run at second when Patrick Barrington induced a ground ball to short to end the game.
 
Dylan Nasiatka and Keenan Ivey had three hits apiece for USCB, and Nasiatka and Blake Cilwick each drove in two runs.
 
USCB travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., this weekend for a three-game series with league leader Embry-Riddle, the No. 4 team in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll.