No. 21 USCB (8-10, 1-5 TSC) at Florida Memorial (3-20, 0-12)
The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team hits the road this weekend in search of its first series victory in Sun Conference play. The Sand Sharks open a three-game conference series at Florida Memorial with a single game at 2:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
It's the second conference road trip of the season for USCB, which dropped two of three at Webber International to open league play and was swept in a three-game home series against No. 7 Embry-Riddle. The Sand Sharks have won 11 of 13 all-time meetings with Florida Memorial, including six straight dating to a 6-5 loss in the 2010 Sun Conference tournament.
It's the first action for USCB since taking two of three from visiting Georgia Gwinnett last weekend. The Sand Sharks were scheduled to play a home doubleheader against Voorhees on Tuesday postponed those games as a courtesy to Tigers coach Robert Platts, whose father had fallen ill.
LEADING OFF
Date: Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9
Time: 2:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. Saturday (DH)
Location: Harry T. Moore Field, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Series: USCB leads 11-2, including a 5-1 mark at FMU
2012 Results: USCB swept three games
LIVE COVERAGE
TV: None
Streaming video: None
Live stats: TBD
SCOUTING FLORIDA MEMORIAL
The Lions are off to a rough start in 2013 and are still looking for their first victory in Sun Conference play. They snapped a 10-game losing streak with a win against Viterbo (Wis.) on Monday but lost the last three games of the series, culminating with a 9-3 defeat Thursday. DH Casey Johnston and OF Alejandro Diaz have been the team's top hitters so far. RHP Mike Hardison, who pitched 11 innings in a pitchers' duel against USCB's Michael Heesch last season, is the Lions' top starting pitcher, and Sergio Gonzalez is the top reliever.
Head-to-head (*indicates home team)
3/13/2009 *USCB 12, FMU 11
3/14/2009 *USCB 6, FMU 5
3/14/2009 *USCB 21, FMU 11
4/2/2010 *FMU, 5, USCB 4
4/3/2010 USCB 8, *FMU 4
4/3/2010 USCB 7, *FMU 3
5/10/2010 #FMU 6, USCB 5
4/22/2011 USCB 6, *FMU 2
4/23/2011 USCB 8, *FMU 1
4/23/2011 USCB 11, *FMU 0
3/9/2012 *USCB 1, FMU 0
3/10/2012 *USCB 14, FMU 0
3/10/2012 *USCB 11, FMU 1
NOTES
• Freshman 3B Brandon Joyce is 8-for-14 during his four-game hitting streak and boasts a team-best .357 batting average.
• USCB pitchers have not allowed a home run this season.
• Sophomore OF Kyle Thompson has drawn a team-high 16 walks and needs only two more to crack the top 10 on USCB's single-season list. R.J. Neal (2009-12) holds the single-season record with 28.
• Junior 1B Erik Armstrong (7) needs two home runs to tie Brandon Collins for USCB's career lead.
• USCB hit home runs in two of its first five games but has not hit one in the past 13 contests.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Baseball Media Guide
USCB Baseball Cumulative Statistics
Sun Conference Baseball Standings
USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook
USCB Athletics on Twitter
