FIN FACTS
»» The USCB baseball team steps out of Sun Conference play this weekend, hosting the College of St. Joseph (Vt.) for a four-game series Friday and Saturday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Sand Sharks are 166-74 all-time at home, including an 11-9 mark this season.
»» Four different USCB pitchers have tied the school record with 12 strikeouts in a game this season. Senior LHP Wade Arduini and senior RHP Justin Kortessis each matched the record earlier this season against Florida Memorial, and senior RHP Julio De Pena and junior RHP Zac Burke tied the mark against Fisher.
»» Junior OF/DH Bobby Wenthe leads the Sand Sharks in home runs (7) and RBIs (38) and ranks 11th in the NAIA in RBIs and eighth in RBIs per game (1.407). Wenthe is one home run shy of tying Ashly Morris for the single-season USCB record set in 2015.
»» Senior 3B Brandon Joyce has 118 career RBIs, which ranks second in program history behind R.J. Neal (133). Joyce's 178 hits are tied for the fifth-most all-time at USCB, and he is the school's all-time leader in walks (105).
»» USCB ranks 12th in the NAIA in stolen bases (69) and 16th in stolen bases per game (2.379). The Sand Sharks have swiped 33 bags in their past nine games. Sophomore OF JoJo Markle (14) and senior OF Thomas Estopare (13) lead the way on the basepaths.
»» Senior 1B/RHP Justin Kortessis was named the No. 13 pro prospect in the NAIA by Perfect Game last month. Kortessis was 7-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 15 appearances (six starts) for the Sand Sharks last season and is 4-2 with a 3.41 ERA in six starts this season. He has compiled 39 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings in 2017.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Fighting Saints won the USCAA national championship last season and have played a challenging schedule in 2017, including seven games against Sun Conference teams. St. Joseph is 0-2 against Keiser and St. Thomas, 0-1 against Ave Maria, and 1-1 against Florida Memorial. The Saints have posted a .265 team batting average and a 7.09 team ERA.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Baseball Record Book
Sun Conference Baseball Standings
