Warner (18-15, 8-4 TSC) at No. 16 USC Beaufort (35-3, 11-1 TSC)
The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team will try to clinch the regular-season Sun Conference title and the top seed in the conference tournament when the 10th-ranked Sand Sharks host Warner for a doubleheader Friday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Sand Sharks, who are riding a program-best 12-game winning streak, can lock up the conference title with just one win over the Royals.
USCB has two special events on tap for Friday's games. Before the first game, the Sand Sharks will present Richard Culliver, a Columbia-area boy with an inoperable brain tumor, with a donation raised through the team's Strikeout Cancer benefit. Between games, the Sand Sharks will celebrate Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day with each player honoring someone at USCB who has made a positive impact on their college experience.
LEADING OFF
Date: Friday, April 26
Time: 4 p.m. (DH)
Location: Richard Gray Sports Complex, Hardeeville
SCOUTING WARNER
The Royals stayed in the conference title race with a doubleheader sweep of Ave Maria last weekend, and they've won eight of their last 10. Warner has a strong pitching staff led by Lindsey Martin (7-3, 2.03 ERA) and Heather Knoop (8-8, 3.67). Seniors Tiffani Upchurch (.418 avg, 23 RBI) and Tabatha Martin (.410 avg, 9 SB) lead the offense.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time: USCB leads 3-0
Current streak: USCB won last 3
All-time at USCB: USCB leads 3-0
Streak at USCB: USCB won last 3
LIVE COVERAGE
TV: None
Streaming video: Stretch Internet
Live stats: Stretch Internet
NOTES
• USCB has moved into the top 10 in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the first time, and the Sand Sharks have been selected to host one of 10 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round sites from May 13-15.
• The Sand Sharks have been one of the most productive offensive teams in the nation, ranking third in the nation in home runs per game (1.316) and slugging (.593) and fourth in runs per game (8.289), RBIs per game (7.421).
• USCB has scored 10 or more runs 16 times and 16 of USCB's wins have ended early via the eight-run mercy rule. Two of the Sand Sharks' three losses have been in one-run games.
• Junior SS C.J. Browder leads the nation in RBIs per game (1.611) and total bases per game (3.222) and ranks fourth in home runs per game (.417). Browder has been named Sun Conference Player of the Week four times this season.
• The Sand Sharks' pitching staff also has been outstanding, ranking 22nd in the nation in team ERA (2.21), 32nd in opponents' batting average (.236) and 36th in total strikeouts (215). Sophomore Kristy Cook (16-0, 1.97 ERA) ranks 16th in hits allowed per nine innings (5.78) and 19th in opponents' batting average (.181).
• USCB's pitchers have compiled a remarkable 215 strikeouts against only 63 walks in 247 innings.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Softball Media Guide
USCB Softball Season Statistics
Sun Conference Softball Standings
USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook
USCB Athletics on Twitter
