The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team begins its fourth season of competition this weekend with a pair of home doubleheaders. The 24th-ranked Sand Sharks start things off with a pair of games against St. Andrews starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday before hosting Montreat for two games beginning at noon Sunday. 

USCB returns all but two players from last season's team that went 39-11 and finished as the Sun Conference regular-season and tournament runner-up. Among the returners are nine seniors who were part of the inaugural team in 2011. 

The Sand Sharks, who are opening the season against St. Andrews for the third consecutive year, have never lost on opening day. The Sand Sharks are 70-11 all-time at Richard Gray Sports Complex, where they won 19 of 22 games last season. 

LIVE COVERAGE

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Streaming video: Stretch Internet 

Live stats: Stretch Internet

SCOUTING SAU

The Knights were picked fourth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference preseason poll after finishing 18-25 overall and 9-9 in conference play a year ago. Ninth-year coach Elizabeth Burris returns her entire pitching staff, a group that compiled a 5.25 ERA a year ago. The Knights also have several of their top hitters returning, including 3B/P Kori Ballard (.359 BA, 6 HR, 39 RBIs), 1B/OF Jen George (.333, 15 RBIs) and OF Mekayla Valentine (.324, 3 HR, 15 RBIs). 

SCOUTING MONTREAT

The Cavaliers were picked ninth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference preseason poll after finishing 15-30 overall and 4-16 in conference play a year ago. Third-year coach Heather Maston returns one of her top two pitchers from a year ago in junior Melanie Recher (6-17, 6.46 ERA) and has added two new pitchers. The team's top two returning hitters are OF Marti Sementelli (.342 BA, 17 RBIs) and SS Melina Wilkerson (.333, 4 HR, 21 RBIs, 22 SBs). 

HEAD-TO-HEAD

USCB VS. SAU: USCB leads 4-0

CURRENT STREAK: USCB W4

ALL-TIME AT USCB: USCB leads 4-0

CURRENT STREAK AT USCB: USCB W4

USCB VS. MONTREAT: USCB leads 2-0

CURRENT STREAK: USCB W2

ALL-TIME AT USCB: USCB leads 2-0

CURRENT STREAK AT USCB: USCB W2

NOTES

•  Senior OF Shelby Zipperer (111) and senior OF Sammi Shaffren (103) enter the season ranked second and third in USCB history for runs scored. Zipperer needs three to pass Katie Rietkovich for the career lead. 

• Senior RHP Kristy Cook needs nine strikeouts to reach 400 for her career. 

• Senior 1B/DP Taylor Triplett enters the season as USCB's all-time leader with 158 career hits. 

• Senior 3B Mariaha Sanborn enters the season as USCB's all-time leader in doubles (36), home runs (27),  RBIs (122) and total bases (261). 

RELATED LINKS

USCB Season Statistics (2014)

Sun Conference Softball Standings

USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook

USCB Athletics on Twitter