HARDEEVILLE, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team was unable to break through against preseason NAIA All-America left-hander Kevin Maloney, as the 21st-ranked Sand Sharks lost 9-0 to No. 7 Embry-Riddle in the opener of a three-game Sun Conference series Friday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. 

Maloney (2-0) struck out six and allowed six hits and two walks over 7 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Eagles (7-1, 4-0 TSC) took advantage of five USCB errors to jump to an early lead. 

USCB's first error helped Embry-Riddle score two runs in the first, and the Eagles used three hits and three Sand Shark errors to push across five runs in the second. The defensive lapses hurt starter Miles Galvin (0-2), who allowed eight runs — only four earned — on eight hits over five innings. 

Sophomore right-hander Kutler Lane kept things from getting away with a solid relief outing, limiting the Eagles to one run on two hits over four innings, but the Sand Sharks couldn't take advantage of their limited scoring opportunities. 

USCB (3-5, 1-3) left two runners in scoring position in the first and the eighth and left seven men on  overall. Blake Cilwick and Kyle Thompson each went 2-for-4 to lead the Sand Sharks at the plate. 

The series concludes with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday. 

NOTES: Maloney improved to 21-0 in his career at Embry-Riddle. … The Sand Sharks will try to avoid their first three-game series loss at home since dropping two of three to SCAD Savannah on April 8-9, 2011. … USCB 1B Erik Armstrong went 1-for-4 with his team-leading third double.