HARDEEVILLE — After relying on a potent offense during the opening weekend of the season, the University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team had to find another way to win Friday.

Three USCB pitchers combined to shut down visiting Truett-McConnell as the Sand Sharks claimed a 3-2 victory in the opener of a three-game series at Richard Gray Sports Complex. 

Senior shortstop Ashly Morris went 3-for-4 and scored two runs — including the eventual winning run on a swipe of home — and senior first baseman Johnny Cole was 3-for-4 with an RBI for USCB (4-1). Senior Kutler Lane (1-0) gave up one run on one hit in two innings of relief for the win, and junior Blake Drew struck out two in a perfect ninth for his first save as a Sand Shark. 

Senior right-hander Junior Delatorre didn't factor in the decision, but he turned in a strong start, racking up eight strikeouts and scattering seven hits while allowing one run over six innings. Delatorre was in a duel with Bears left-hander Luke Henderson (1-1), who allowed three runs (two earned) on 11 hits over 6 2/3 frames. 

The Sand Sharks took a 1-0 lead on sophomore catcher Nick Payne's RBI groundout in the second and made it 2-0 on Cole's RBI double scoring Morris in the fifth. 

Truett-McConnell (3-2) scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to tie it before USCB manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh. Morris and Cole collected back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with two outs, and Cole feinted toward second to draw a throw, allowing Morris to steal home. 

USCB's bullpen then slammed the door, as Lane sat down the Bears in order in the eighth and Drew induced a flyout and struck out the final two batters of the game. 

The teams conclude the series with a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday. Junior right-hander Jamie Strock will start the opener for USCB with senior right-hander Gage Roth expected to start the finale.

NOTES: Morris (103) surpassed DeShontay Berry and JJ Crespo on USCB's all-time hits list, moving into eighth in program history. … Morris is the only Sand Shark who has hit safely in every game this season. … USCB has recorded 12 or more hits in every game this season.