HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – The USCB baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to visiting Edward Waters on Tuesday at Richard Gray Sports Complex.

The Tigers put together a six-run inning in each game, rallying for a 7-5 victory in the opener and winning 11-3 in the finale.

GAME 1 – EWC 7, USCB 5

The Sand Sharks grabbed an early lead on Brandon Joyce's sacrifice fly in the first inning and Noah Matthews' run-scoring groundout in the third, but left-hander Zachary Kazak kept the Tigers in it and Edward Waters put up six run sin the sixth to take control.

A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt opened the door for the Tigers' big inning, which was highlighted by Noah Leake's two-run triple into the right-field corner.

Nick Graham came through with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth to pull the Sand Sharks within 6-4, but the Tigers responded with a run in the seventh.

Matthews' RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh brought the tying run to the plate, but Manuel Guerra ended the threat to earn the save for Edward Waters.

USCB starter Nick Constan went five-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Thomas Estopare (2-for-3, two runs, stolen base)

GAME 2 – EWC 11, USCB 3

The Tigers plated three runs in the second inning and never gave up the lead in the nightcap. Michael Grunder's sacrifice fly and Matthews' RBI single pulled USCB within 3-2 in the second, but Edward Waters put together another six-run frame in the third to break it open and tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth.

Matthews' solo home run – the first of his collegiate career – capped the scoring in the fifth. 

Paxton Buckner pitched five strong innings in relief for the Sand Sharks, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits. 

Bojangles' Player of the Game: Noah Matthews (2-for-3, sacrifice, run, HR, 2 RBIs)

FIN FACTS

Joyce's RBI in Game 1 was the 117th of his career, pulling him into a tie for second on USCB's all-time list along with Erik Armstrong and Spencer Jackson. Joyce is 16 behind all-time leader R.J. Neal. … Alex Murphy went 0-for-3 in Game 2, ending his streak of 20 consecutive games reaching base. 

UP NEXT

USCB hosts No. 22 St. Thomas for a key Sun Conference series this weekend. The Sand Sharks and Bobcats are tied in the conference standings at 6-3. The series begins with a single game at 3 p.m. Friday and concludes with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.