The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team looks to continue its unbeaten start to Sun Conference play when the 24th-ranked Sand Sharks host rival Embry-Riddle on Sunday. The Eagles edged USCB by one game for the regular-season Sun Conference title last season, but the Sand Sharks won all three meetings a year ago and are 5-0 all-time against Embry-Riddle. The Sand Sharks are 6-0 at home this season with all six games ending early on the eight-run mercy rule.
USCB is celebrating Youth Day on Sunday with special events planned for children in attendance. Youth baseball and softball players are encouraged to wear their uniforms to the ballpark.
SCOUTING EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Eagles had won three straight and six of seven before being swept in a Sun Conference doubleheader at No. 10 Thomas on Saturday. Embry-Riddle was shut out in both games, losing 8-0 and 2-0 and managing only six hits in the doubleheader. The Eagles have hit a modest .258 as a team with Anna Battison (.390) and Kailah Rain (.324, 11 RBIs) leading the way while Robi Zimmerman (.257, 4 HR, 20 RBIs) is the top run producer. Junior-college transfer Raquelli Bianco has emerged as the team's ace, tossing five shutouts and compiling an 8-6 record and a 3.47 ERA. Bianco has allowed only one earned run over her last five starts.
NOTES
• USCB has played 10 games against teams that are ranked or receiving votes in this week's NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. USCB has three wins over current top 25 teams — No. 2 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.), No. 14 Belhaven (Miss.) and No. 19 Campbellsville (Ky.).
• Senior OF Shelby Zipperer (120) became USCB's all-time leader for runs scored earlier this season while senior 3B Mariaha Sanborn is the program's career leader in doubles (39), home runs (31), RBIs (139) and total bases (298).
• Junior SS Haley Brown ranks seventh in the NAIA with 10 home runs and the Sand Sharks have 27 homers in 24 contests. Brown hit a school-record three homers March 1 vs. Thomas.
• Senior RHP Kristy Cook surpassed 400 career strikeouts Feb. 13 at Brewton-Parker and enters Friday with 445. Cook threw her seventh career no-hitter Feb. 28 vs. Campbellsville (Ky.).
• Senior 1B/DP Taylor Triplett is USCB's all-time leader with 175 career hits.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Season Statistics
Sun Conference Softball Standings
USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook
USCB Athletics on Twitter
