FIN FACTS
»» The USCB softball team continues Sun Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Keiser at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Sand Sharks have won all 11 previous meetings with the Seahawks, including a doubleheader sweep at home last season.
»» The Sand Sharks received votes in the first NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the regular season released Tuesday. USCB also received votes in the preseason poll.
»» USCB has faced a difficult early-season schedule. The Sand Sharks are 3-7 against current Top-25 opponents with wins over No. 2 William Carey and No. 6 Campbellsville, a doubleheader split with No. 24 Rio Grande, and losses to No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett (twice), No. 11 Lindsey Wilson, No. 12 Reinhardt and No. 21 Mobile (twice).
»» After playing 14 of its first 16 games at home, the Sand Sharks are playing their first games at Richard Gray Sports Complex since Feb. 25. USCB is 107-21 all-time at home, including an 11-3 mark this season.
»» Sophomore OF Kayla Boyle is riding a 15-game hitting streak and has 11 multi-hit games this season.
»» Senior INF Marissa Becker has a team-high 11 stolen bases this season and 44 in her career, surpassing Sammi Shaffren (43) for USCB's all-time lead.
»» Sophomore P Abby Pac surpassed 100 career strikeouts on Opening Day versus Montreat and ranks third on USCB's career list with 189 strikeouts.
»» USCB has a young squad again in 2017 with nine sophomores and eight freshmen on the roster. Only three of the Sand Sharks' 20 players are upperclassmen.»» The Sand Sharks have collected 32 stolen bases in 29 games after swiping 53 in 55 games a year ago. Becker (11) and freshman OF Brittany Olean (9) lead USCB on the bases.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Seahawks got off to a quick start under first-year coach Terri Knecht but have dropped their last eight games, including their first six Sun Conference contests. Keiser is batting a respectable .321 as a team, and the pitching staff has posted a solid 3.23 ERA, but the average has fallen to .232 and the ERA has ballooned to 4.27 in conference play. Middle infielders Kristen Garceau (.452 BA, 14 RBIs, 21 SBs) and Kelsey Brodbeck (.400 BA, 17 SBs) cause havoc on the bases, and first baseman Cassidy Miller (.356 BA, HR, 22 RBIs) is the top run producer in the lineup.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Softball Record Book
Sun Conference Softball Standings
