No. 7 Embry-Riddle (6-1, 3-0 TSC) at No. 21 USCB (3-4, 1-2)
The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball teams squares off against Sun Conference rival Embry-Riddle for the first time since bouncing the Eagles from the NAIA World Series last May when seventh-ranked Embry-Riddle visits Hardeeville's Richard Gray Sports Complex for a three-game conference series this weekend. The Eagles are the early favorite to win their sixth consecutive conference title and their 11th in the last 12 seasons, but USCB won three of five meetings last season. The Sand Sharks were picked to finish third in the conference despite losing 16 seniors. The young USCB team dropped the first two games of its opening conference series last weekend at Webber International but rebounded for a 16-5 win in the finale. The Sand Sharks had a doubleheader at Voorhees College rained out on Tuesday.
LEADING OFF
Date: Friday, Feb. 15, and Saturday, Feb. 16
Time: 2 p.m. Friday, Noon Saturday (DH)
Location: Richard Gray Sports Complex, Hardeeville
Series: ERAU leads 10-6 overall; ERAU leads 4-2 on the road
2012 Results: USCB won three of five games
LIVE COVERAGE
TV: Friday — The County Channel (Hargray 9/113, Comcast 2, Time Warner 63); Saturday — None
Streaming video: Friday — The County Channel; Saturday — Stretch Internet
Live stats: Stretch Internet
ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Eagles have struggled at the plate so far this season, hitting .246 as a team and averaging 4.1 runs per game, but they've ridden a dominant pitching staff to a 6-1 start. Embry-Riddle's team ERA of 1.89 ranks 12th in the nation (as of Feb. 14) with right-hander Chad Modomo (1-0, 1.26 ERA) and left-hander Stetson Nelson (1-0, 1.29 ERA) anchor the rotation along with preseason NAIA All-American left-hander Kevin Maloney (1-0, 3.18 ERA). The Eagles have played nothing but close games — six of the seven have been one-run contests and the other was decided by two runs.
Head-to-head (*indicates home team/#indicates neutral site)
3/20/2009 *ERAU 8, USCB 0
3/21/2009 USCB 8, *ERAU 1
3/21/2009 ERAU* 6, USCB 3
5/4/2009 #ERAU 11, USCB 6
2/19/2010 *USCB 4, ERAU 1
2/20/2010 ERAU 5, *USCB 1
2/20/2010 ERAU 9, *USCB 0
3/11/2011 *USCB 7, ERAU 6
3/12/2011 ERAU 10, *USCB 7
3/12/2011 ERAU 2, *USCB 0
5/3/2011 #ERAU 13, USCB 5
4/6/2012 USCB 3, *ERAU 1
4/7/2012 *ERAU 9, USCB 4
4/7/2012 USCB 9, *ERAU 2
5/2/2012 #ERAU 3, USCB 1
5/26/2012 #USCB 7, ERAU 2
NOTES
• USCB is 94-33 all-time at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Sand Sharks split a four-game series with Shawnee State (Ohio) in their first home contests of the 2013 season.
• The Sand Sharks rank seventh in the NAIA in total triples (4) and eighth in triples per game (.571). Terry McClinton, Blake Cilwick, Jon Andrews and Brandon Joyce each have one three-bagger.
• Junior 1B Erik Armstrong (7) needs two home runs to tie Brandon Collins for USCB's career lead.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Baseball Media Guide
USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook
USCB Athletics on Twitter
