The USCB baseball team plays its first home games of the 2016 campaign when the Sand Sharks open Sun Conference play with a three-game series against Thomas on Friday and Saturday. The series opener is slated for 1 p.m. Friday followed by a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
FIN FACTS
• The Sand Sharks are 136-62 all-time at Richard Gray Sports Complex, including an 18-10 mark last season.
• USCB's pitching staff has compiled a 1.25 ERA through five games, which ranks third in the NAIA through Tuesday's games. Six pitchers have seen action for the Sand Sharks and none have an ERA higher than 2.38.
• Junior UTL Kal Davis went 5-for-10 with a double, six RBIs and two runs scored in a three-game series at Truett-McConnell last weekend. It was the USCB debut for Davis, who had not played since 2013 at USC Lancaster.
• The Sand Sharks have been aggressive on the bases, ranking 17th in the nation (through Tuesday) in steal attempts per game (3.0) and 26th in stolen bases per game (2.2). Junior SS Max Balter, senior 2B Josh Reinhart and junior OF Thomas Estopare are tied for the team lead with three stolen bases.
MILESTONE WATCH
• With four hits this season, junior 3B Brandon Joyce has 87 in his career, good for 13th on USCB's all-time list. Joyce needs two hits to surpass Clay Bonds for 12th on the list.
• Joyce has drawn four walks this season and has 54 in his career, third in program history behind RJ Neal (67) and Erik Armstrong (62).
• Senior RHP Blake Drew set USCB's single-season saves record last year with eight and ranks second on the career list behind Kyle McCullough (11). Drew is also tied for seventh on the all-time list with nine wins, including one this season.
BY THE NUMBERS
5.6 – USCB has drawn 28 walks through five games, an average of 5.6 per game. That's a big jump even from last year's school-record clip of 4.8 free passes per contest (258 walks in 54 games).
4 – USCB pitchers have issued a total of four walks through five games, averaging less than one per game. The four free passes have come over 36 innings for an average of one every nine innings.
1 – The Sand Sharks have allowed only one run later than the fourth inning, outscoring opponents 13-1 from the fifth inning on.
SCOUTING THOMAS
The Night Hawks are 3-3 entering play this weekend after dropping two of three at Middle Georgia to open the season and rebounding to take two of three from visiting Trinity Baptist last weekend. The offense has been feast-or-famine for the Night Hawks, who have scored 10 or more runs in their three wins and two or fewer in their three losses. Five starters are hitting .333 or better and four have at least four RBIs. Twelve pitchers already have seen action for the Night Hawks with five boasting ERAs under 1.00.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Baseball Record Book
Sun Conference Baseball Standings
