Columbia College (18-10) at No. 15 USC Beaufort (21-5)

The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team looks to continue its strong play at home when the 15th-ranked Sand Sharks host in-state rival Columbia College for a doubleheader Wednesday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Sand Sharks are 12-2 at home this season and boast a 63-9 all-time record in Hardeeville. USCB is preparing for a big weekend of Sun Conference play, as the Sand Sharks hit the road after Wednesday's contests for doubleheaders at Webber International on Saturday and Embry-Riddle on Sunday.  
 

LEADING OFF

WHEN: Wednesday, April 2, 4 p.m. (DH)

WHERE: Richard Gray Sports Complex, Hardeeville

CURRENT USCB STREAK: W2

CURRENT CC STREAK: W1

USCB AT HOME IN 2014: 12-2

CC ON THE ROAD IN 2014: 5-4

LIVE COVERAGE

TV: None

Streaming video: Stretch Internet

Live stats: Stretch Internet

SCOUTING COLUMBIA

The Fighting Koalas boast a team batting average of .281 and average 5.46 runs per game. 2B Kelsey Pruitt leads the offense, batting. 430 with three home runs and 17 RBIs, while SS Ashley Cox (.368, 8 doubles, 17 RBIs) and 1B Rochelle Lyda (.337, 2 HR, 25 RBIs) also have put up solid numbers. Erin Walker (9-5, 2.19 ERA) and Lindsey Knipp (5-1, 2.95) anchor a pitching staff that has recorded four shutouts. 

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL-TIME: USCB leads 5-2

CURRENT STREAK: USCB W3

ALL-TIME AT USCB: USCB leads 2-1

CURRENT STREAK AT USCB: USCB W1

NOTES

• USCB surpassed the 100-win mark in the program's three-year history last week, picking up wins No. 100 and 101 in a doubleheader sweep at Edward Waters. The Sand Sharks have a 101-22 all-time record. 

• USCB is 63-9 all-time at Richard Gray Sports Complex and 70-12 in games played in the state of South Carolina.

• The Sand Sharks rank in the top 20 in the NAIA in four batting categories: home runs per game (11th, 1.0), slugging (15th, .529), batting average (16th, .355), hits per game (17th, 9.769).

• Five USCB starters boast batting averages over .400 — Mariaha Sanborn (.475), Taylor Triplett (.439), Maddie Byrd (.420), Missy Hughes (.413), Alexandria Simmons (.400) — while Chelsey Blasingame (.373) and Melanie Goolsby (.357) are just shy of the mark. 

• Junior 3B Mariaha Sanborn leads the Sun Conference in batting average (.475) and on-base percentage (.523) and ranks second in home runs per game (0.18), slugging (.805), RBIs per game (1.04) and total bases per game (2.09).

• Junior 1B/DP Taylor Triplett leads the Sun Conference in home runs (8), home runs per game (0.33), slugging (.805), hits per game (1.5), RBIs per game (1.17), total bases (66) and total bases per game (2.75), ranks second in RBIs (28) and ranks third in batting average (.439). 

• USCB pitchers have combined for 152 strikeouts, 37th-most in the NAIA, and rank 23rd in the NAIA in opponents' batting average (.220) and 45th in team ERA (2.53). 

RELATED LINKS

USCB Season Statistics

Sun Conference Softball Standings

USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook

USCB Athletics on Twitter