The top two teams in the Sun Conference standings square off Friday when the University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team host Thomas at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The eighth-ranked Night Hawks and the No. 22 Sand Sharks both enter the matchup riding 10-game winning streaks and sitting at 6-0 in conference play. The teams met earlier this season at a neutral site with Thomas winning 13-8 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
SCOUTING THOMAS
The Night Hawks have rattled off 10 straight wins dating to March 8, including six straight to open conference play. The pitching staff has been outstanding during conference play, notching four shutouts including a pair against Embry-Riddle on Saturday. Thomas has been balanced and boasts a .331 team average with eight starters hitting over .300, while the pitching staff has compiled a 2.50 ERA.
NOTES
• USCB has played 12 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. 12 Campbellsville (Ky.) and No. 23 Belhaven (Miss.).
• Senior OF Shelby Zipperer (124) 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 (41), home runs (31), RBIs (144) and total bases (303).
• Junior SS Haley Brown ranks fifth in the NAIA with 12 home runs and the Sand Sharks have 31 homers in 28 contests, ranking 13th nationally with 1.107 home runs per game. Brown hit a school-record three homers March 1 vs. Thomas.
• Senior RHP Kristy Cook was named the Sun Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday for the third time this season and the 12th time in her career. Cook surpassed 400 career strikeouts Feb. 13 at Brewton-Parker and enters Friday with 448. Cook threw her seventh career no-hitter Feb. 28 vs. Campbellsville (Ky.).
• Senior 1B/DP Taylor Triplett is USCB's all-time leader with 178 career hits.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Season Statistics
Sun Conference Softball Standings
USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook
USCB Athletics on Twitter
