USCB (17-18, 7-11 TSC) at Northwood (24-17-1, 7-10 TSC)
The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team will try to move back above .500 and make up ground in the race to Fort Myers for the Sun Conference Tournament when the Sand Sharks travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., for a three-game series with Northwood on Saturday and Sunday. The series originally was scheduled for Friday and Saturday but was pushed back a day because of rain. The tentative schedule calls for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday and a single game at 11 a.m. Sunday. The Sand Sharks are coming off a 6-3 win at NCAA Division I Savannah State on Tuesday after winning one of three games against then-No. 16 St. Thomas last weekend. USCB is a half-game behind Northwood for seventh-place in the Sun Conference standings and 1 1/2 back of sixth-place Thomas. The top six teams qualify for the Sun Conference Tournament.
LEADING OFF
Date: Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6
Time: 11 a.m. Saturday (DH), 11 a.m. Sunday
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla.
LIVE COVERAGE
TV: None
Streaming video: None
Live stats: Dakstats (Click on the "W" icon)
SCOUTING NORTHWOOD
The Seahawks have lost four straight and six of seven, including a three-game sweep at Webber International in a conference series last weekend. They've been limited to three runs or less in each contest during their losing streak but are averaging 6.7 runs per game for the season — 29th in the nation. Six starters are hitting over .300, led by Angel Garcia (.389, 2 HR, 24 RBI), Alexis Batista (.377, 22 RBI, 10 SB) and Richie Reilly (.364, 4 HR, 43 RBI). The pitching staff has not been as strong with a 4.86 ERA.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time: USCB leads 8-4
Current streak: Northwood won last game
All-time at Northwood: Tied 3-3
Streak at USCB: Northwood won last game
NOTES
• USCB is 9-8 on the road this season and has won two of its four Sun Conference series away from home.
• USCB ranks 10th in the nation in total triples (13) and 17th in triples per game (0.371), and senior DH/2B Terry McClinton ranks fifth in the nation with five three-baggers.
• Junior LF Blake Cilwick has hit safely in 16 of the past 17 games and is the reigning Sun Conference Player of the Week after going 8-for-22 with two doubles, a triple, six runs scored and seven RBIs in five games last week.
• Junior DH/3B Ryan Walker has hit safely in nine consecutive games to raise his batting average to a team-best .353.
• Junior 1B Erik Armstrong (7) needs two home runs to tie Brandon Collins for USCB's career lead.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Baseball Media Guide
Sun Conference Baseball Standings
USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook
USCB Athletics on Twitter
