Hattiesburg Bracket Headquarters
No. 5 USCB (26-23) vs. No. 4 Central Methodist (25-11)
The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team continues its postseason run at 1 p.m. ET Thursday, as the fifth-seeded Sand Sharks take on No. 4 seed Central Methodist (Mo.) in the opening game of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round Hattiesburg Bracket. The winner advances to face top-seeded Northwood (Texas) at 8 p.m. ET.
The Sand Sharks are playing in the Opening Round for the second straight year and the third time in the past four years after making an improbable run to the championship game of The Sun Conference Tournament last week. USCB hosted the Opening Round as a No. 3 seed last year and won five straight games after losing its opener to advance to the Avista-NAIA World Series. The Eagles are playing in the Opening Round for the first time after winning the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
LEADING OFF
Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Milton Wheeler Field - Hattiesburg, Miss.
LIVE COVERAGE
Streaming video: Stretch Internet (CMU)
Live stats: Dakstats
SCOUTING CENTRAL METHODIST
The Eagles hit .305 as a team and average 5.6 runs per game. 1B Jesse Zellner leads the offense with a .389 average, seven home runs and 42 RBIs. Four other starters are hitting over .300. LHP Drew Greiwe (9-0, 1.90 ERA) anchors the pitching staff and has tossed eight complete games in 10 starts. He has compiled 70 strikeouts vs. only 20 walks in 71 innings and holds opposing hitters to a .186 average.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time: First meeting
NOTES
• USCB is 6-3 all-time in the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round. The Sand Sharks have never faced any of the other four teams in the Hattiesburg Bracket.
• USCB has never played a game in the state of Mississippi. After Thursday's game, the Sand Sharks will have played in six different states (South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Idaho and Mississippi).
• 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
