HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – The USCB baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Sun Conference rival Southeastern on Saturday at Richard Gray Sports Complex.
The Sand Sharks couldn't quiet the Fire's potent lineup in a 19-9 defeat in the opener and were unable to produce enough offense in a 5-2 loss in the finale, as the Fire swept the three-game series from No. 18 USCB.
GAME 1 – SEU 19, USCB 9
Mike D'Acunti had a homer among his four hits, Luis Diaz added four hits and three RBIs, and Kianalu Pitoy was 3-for-5 with a homer and six RBIs as the Fire outslugged the Sand Sharks.
Four USCB errors opened the door for Southeastern, and the Fire took full advantage, scoring in eight of the nine innings including a six-run fourth inning and a five-run seventh.
The Sand Sharks pounded 17 hits but also left 10 men on base. Kal Davis was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and Thomas Estopare was 3-for-6 with an RBI and three runs scored to lead USCB's offense.
Bojangles' Player of the Game: Kal Davis (4-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs, R)
GAME 2 – SEU 5, USCB 2
Southeastern right-hander Nate Harmon threw seven strong innings, striking out eight and allowing two runs to help the Fire finish the sweep. The Sand Sharks didn't have a hit until Brandon Joyce's single with two outs in the fourth, and they didn't break through until they chased Harmon in the eighth.
Gerald Ceballos' two-run homer in the third made it 3-0, but USCB starter Justin Kortessis kept the Sand Sharks in it. Southeastern tacked on two runs in the eighth for a 5-0 lead.
USCB pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning before reliever Adrian Rivera worked out of the jam and John Jaeger – the winning pitcher in relief Friday – pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Bojangles' Player of the Game: Justin Kortessis (6 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K)
FIN FACTS
Estopare (39 games) and Davis (28 games) extended their on-base streaks dating to last season. … Junior SS Chris Vazquez is the only Sand Shark who has recorded at least one hit in all four games this season. … USCB pitchers collected a season-high 12 strikeouts in the finale and have struck out 36 batters in 34 innings.
UP NEXT
The Sand Sharks travel to Miami Gardens, Fla., next weekend for a three-game Sun Conference series against Florida Memorial. The series is scheduled to begin with a doubleheader starting at noon Friday and a single game starting at noon Saturday.
