LAKELAND, Fla. – After an eight-year history that has seen USCB baseball develop into a perennial top-25 program, the Sand Sharks are running out of first-time accomplishments, and they can cross another one off the list.
The fifth-ranked Sand Sharks clinched their first regular-season Sun Conference title when they swept a doubleheader at Southeastern on Saturday, beating the Fire 12-7 and 8-5 to complete a three-game sweep. USCB will be the top seed in the Sun Conference Tournament, which will be played May 6-9 at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Fla.
"I'm just incredibly proud of this team and what these guys have accomplished," USCB coach Bryan Lewallyn said. "We have achieved so many things this season that have never been done here in our short history, and to do what we have done with what we have is nothing short of special."
The Sand Sharks (36-6, 18-3 TSC) came roaring out of the gate Saturday, scoring nine runs in the first four innings of game one. Thomas Estopare blasted a two-run homer in the first inning – the first of his three home runs on the day – Matt Kianka followed with a solo shot in the second, and Kal Davis added a two-run blast in the fourth to make it 9-0. Davis' shot gave him 58 RBIs on the season, surpassing Ashly Morris and Brandon Collins for USCB's single-season record.
The Fire (30-17, 12-9) didn't go quietly, though, putting up three runs in the fifth and three in the seventh to pull within 9-6 before Estopare struck again. His solo shot sparked a three-run eighth inning, as Dylan Yankle followed with a two-run double to cap a 4-for-4 performance.
Jamie Strock (8-2) earned the win, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits over 6 1/3 innings, and Blake Drew gave up one run and four hits over 2 2/3 innings of relief.
The Sand Sharks had to play from behind in the finale. After Davis' solo shot in the second tied it at 1, the Fire plated a run in the third and took a 5-1 lead on back-to-back homers in the fourth.
USCB chipped away with three in the fifth, plating one on Kianka's RBI single and two more on Davis' two-run double. Estopare's fourth homer of the series tied it at 5 in the seventh, and Brandon Joyce, Yankle and Nick Payne each knocked in runs in a three-run ninth.
Justin Kortessis (6-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings in relief of Julio De Pena, who allowed five runs (four earned) and eight hits over seven innings.
With three conference games remaining against Warner, the Sand Sharks can do no worse than tie for first place, and they hold the head-to-head advantage over Keiser and St. Thomas – the only two teams with a chance to catch them. USCB, which was picked fourth in the Sun Conference in the preseason and did not receive any votes in the preseason NAIA Top 25 poll, also has achieved its highest ranking ever at No. 5 in the most recent poll.
"Every time I have challenged these guys in some form or another they have responded," Lewallyn said. "They have focused on the process and not the result. We have a saying, 'Just keep pumping the pump.' We just have to keep pumping the pump."
Lewallyn said the regular-season conference title – and hopefully many more accomplishments to come this season – are a tribute not only to this year's roster but to the teams and players who came before.
"There are so many guys who have laid the foundation and made a conference championship possible who shouldn't be overlooked," Lewallyn said. "We all only have a brief time to be a part of something before life takes us in one director or another. We are just caretakers of this program, of what someone before us has done. These guys have done a tremendous job of taking care of the program, but there is still plenty of work left to do."
