FIN FACTS
»» The USCB baseball team returns to Sun Conference play this weekend, hosting Ave Maria for a three-game series at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Sand Sharks are 169-75 all-time at home, including an 14-10 mark this season.
»» Saturday will be Senior Day with a pre-game ceremony honoring USCB's nine seniors – RHP Jacob Shumate, RHP/INF Justin Kortessis, 1B/LHP Wade Arduini, INF Brandon Joyce, RHP Eric Ezersky, C Nick Payne, RHP Julio De Pena, OF Kal Davis and OF Thomas Estopare.
»» Junior OF/DH Bobby Wenthe leads the Sand Sharks in home runs (7) and RBIs (40) and ranks 18th in the NAIA in RBIs. Wenthe is one home run shy of tying Ashly Morris for the single-season USCB record set in 2015.
»» Senior 3B Brandon Joyce has 120 career RBIs, which ranks second in program history behind R.J. Neal (133). Joyce's 183 hits are the fifth-most all-time at USCB, and he is the school's all-time leader in walks (106).
»» USCB ranks 15th in the NAIA in stolen bases (75) and 17th in stolen bases per game (2.273). The Sand Sharks have swiped 40 bags in their past 13 games. Sophomore OF JoJo Markle (15) and senior OF Thomas Estopare (13) lead the way on the basepaths.
»» 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.
»» 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 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA in seven starts this season. He has compiled 47 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings in 2017.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Gyrenes have lost five straight and nine of their last 11 and enter the weekend in eighth place in the Sun Conference standings. Ave Maria is batting .289 as a team with Steven Valentine (.384 BA, 13 RBIs) leading the way. The pitching staff ranks seventh in the NAIA in strikeouts (303) and has posted a 5.27 team ERA.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Baseball Record Book
Sun Conference Baseball Standings
