The USCB baseball team faces its toughest test of the 2016 season to date when the Sand Sharks host No. 15 Keiser for a three-game Sun Conference series Friday and Saturday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. USCB takes an eight-game winning streak and a 3-0 conference mark into the series, which begins with a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Friday and concludes with a single game at noon Saturday. The Seahawks swept a three-game series from the visiting Sand Sharks during the 2015 regular season, but USCB upset top-seeded Keiser 10-8 in the Sun Conference Tournament. The Sand Sharks will send senior LHP John Gora and senior RHP Jamie Strock to the mound Friday with junior RHP Julio De Pena getting the start Saturday.
FIN FACTS
• The Sand Sharks are 141-62 all-time at Richard Gray Sports Complex, including an 18-10 mark last season and a 5-0 mark in 2016.
• Junior OF Thomas Estopare was named the Sun Conference Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Sand Sharks to a three-game sweep of conference rival Thomas. Estopare went 8-for-13 with three doubles, a triple, seven RBIs, three runs, three walks, and three stolen bases in the series. He followed that up by going 3-for-6 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and two runs in a doubleheader sweep of Trinity Baptist on Tuesday.
• USCB's pitching staff has compiled a 1.29 ERA through 10 games, which ranks sixth in the NAIA through Wednesday's games and is the best mark among teams who have played at least five games. Eleven pitchers have seen action for the Sand Sharks and only one has allowed more than two earned runs.
• The Sand Sharks have been aggressive on the bases, ranking seventh in the nation (through Wednesday) in stolen bases (27), 13th in steal attempts per game (3.5) and 17th in stolen bases per game (2.7). Junior OF Thomas Estopare leads the team with with six stolen bases followed by junior SS Max Balter with five.
MILESTONE WATCH
• With 11 hits this season, junior 3B Brandon Joyce has 94 in his career, tied for 11th on USCB's all-time list with Zach Rossetti. Joyce needs eight hits to match DeShontay Berry and JJ Crespo (102) for ninth on the list.
• Joyce has drawn five walks this season and has 55 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 has nine in his career, 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
0 – USCB has not allowed a stolen base this season, as opponents are 0-for-2 in steal attempts. Junior C Nick Payne and junior C Dylan Yankle each have thrown out one would-be base stealer.
3 – Junior CF Thomas Estopare has collected three or more hits in three of the past five games, batting .579 with 10 RBIs over that span.
4 – The Sand Sharks have allowed only seven runs later than the fifth inning, outscoring opponents 25-7 from the sixth inning on.
SCOUTING KEISER
The Seahawks' three losses have come to ranked opponents – two against No. 3 Faulkner (Ala.) and one against No. 13 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.). Keiser's offense is led by All-American Keivan Berges, the reigning Sun Conference Player of the Year who is batting .438 with a homer and 10 RBIs. The pitching staff has compiled a 6.09 ERA against tough competition, but starters Kyle Keatts (1-0, 1.20 ERA) and Steven Bruce (2-0, 1.50 ERA) have been dominant on the mound.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Baseball Record Book
Sun Conference Baseball Standings
