The USCB baseball team makes its second road trip of the season this weekend, playing a three-game non-conference series at Truett-McConnell. The series is slated for a nine-inning game at 2 p.m. Friday followed by a pair of seven-inning games starting at noon Saturday. The Sand Sharks are looking for their first series victory after splitting a season-opening doubleheader Saturday at Trinity Baptist, while the Bears are after their first win following a 15-5 defeat at Middle Georgia to open their season Tuesday. 
 

FIN FACTS

• USCB racked up seven stolen bases on eight attempts at Trinity Baptist and ranks third in the NAIA in steal attempts per game (4.0) and fourth in stolen bases (3.5) through Wednesday's games. 

• Junior SS Max Balter tied the single-season school record with three stolen bases in his USCB debut in Game 1 at Trinity Baptist, including a swipe of home on a double steal. 

• The USCB pitching staff boasts a 1.38 ERA, fourth-best in the NAIA through Wednesday. Four pitchers took the mound for the Sand Sharks in their season-opening doubleheader and none allowed more than one earned run. 

• Senior LHP John Gora, a transfer from Tennessee Tech, is slated to start Friday's game in his USCB debut. Junior RHP Julio De Pena, who allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings in a tough-luck loss in his Sand Sharks debut, is expected to start the opener of Saturday's doubleheader. Senior RHP Jamie Strock is in line to start the finale and looks to improve to 2-0 after giving up one run and five hits over 4 1/3 frames Saturday. 
 

MILESTONE WATCH

• Junior 3B Brandon Joyce collected his 84th career hit last Saturday at Trinity Baptist and sits 15th on USCB's all-time list, one behind Larry Perry and TJ Kemp. Joyce needs 16 hits to become the 11th player in program history to collect 100 hits. 

• Joyce has drawn 50 career walks, tied for third on USCB's all-time list behind RJ Neal (67) and Erik Armstrong (62). 

• Senior OF Matt Kianka has been hit by a pitch 11 times in his USCB career, including once this season, which ranks 10th on the career list.

• Joyce and senior OF John Cloyd each have 11 sacrifice bunts in their USCB careers, tied for sixth on the all-time list. 

• 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 also ranks 10th on the all-time list with eight wins. 

• Senior RHP Jamie Strock had five complete games last year in his first season at USCB and ranks fourth on the all-time list. Michael Heesch and Junior Delatorre are tied for second with six.
 

RELATED LINKS

USCB Schedule and Results

USCB Season Statistics

Sand Shark Baseball Record Book

Sun Conference Baseball Standings