The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team begins its second season of competition Saturday afternoon with a home doubleheader against St. Andrews University. The Sand Sharks begin the season ranked No. 21 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Top 25 poll and picked to win The Sun Conference. USCB returns virtually every key player from last year's team that went 37-11 in its inaugural season, including All-Sun Conference performers P Kristy Cook, 2B Katie Rietkovich, OF Melanie Goolsby and OF Shelby Zipperer.

FIRST PITCH

Date: Saturday, Feb. 2

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Richard Gray Sports Complex, Hardeeville

Series: First meeting

ABOUT ST. ANDREWS

Seventh-year coach Elizabeth Burris leads the Knights as they make the transition to NAIA competition this season. St. Andrews went 8-44 overall and 2-18 in Conference Carolinas play while competing at the NCAA Division II level a year ago.

LIVE COVERAGE

TV: None

Streaming video: Stretch Internet

Live stats: Stretch Internet

NOTES

• The Sand Sharks are 2-0 all-time on opening day after outscoring Wesleyan College 37-1 in a doubleheader to open their inaugural season last year. 

• USCB went 26-2 at home last season with its only losses coming to Emmanuel College and NCAA Division II Walsh University. 

• The Sand Sharks return their primary starters at every position, as well as their top two pitchers. USCB also added transfers LHP Caitlin Campbell (Armstrong Atlantic State), INF C.J. Browder (Northwest Florida State), RHP Becca Hewitt (Coastal Georgia) and INF Alexandria Simmons (Florence-Darlington Tech) and freshmen RHP Ashlie Layman, C/OF Whitley Martin and OF Missy Hughes.

RELATED LINKS

USCB Softball Media Guide

USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook

USCB Athletics on Twitter