FIN FACTS
»» The USCB baseball team takes on a tough non-conference opponent when the 18th-ranked Sand Sharks host No. 17 Middle Georgia for a doubleheader Tuesday at Richard Gray Sports Complex. The Sand Sharks are 161-68 all-time at home.
»» USCB is coming off a four-game sweep at Stillman (Ala.) College over the weekend in which the Sand Sharks outscored the Tigers 29-9. The Sand Sharks have won 12 of their last 13 games.
»» The Sand Sharks entered the season ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Baseball Coaches Top 25 Poll (see bottom right) after finishing the 2016 campaign ranked 13th, matching USCB's highest preseason ranking ever. The Sand Sharks also were ranked 18th entering the 2011 campaign.
»» 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 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four starts this season. He has compiled 28 strikeouts in 25 innings in 2017.
»» Junior OF/DH Bobby Wenthe leads the Sand Sharks in home runs (5) and RBIs (29) and ranks fourth in the NAIA in RBIs per game (1.71).
»» Junior 3B Brandon Joyce has reached base via hit or walk in all 17 games this season.
»» Senior C Nick Payne is riding a team-best five-game hitting streak.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Knights are off to strong start to the 2017 campaign and took two of three at Bethel (Tenn.) over the weekend. Slugging brothers Andy Mocahbee (.354 BA, 6 HR, 27 RBIs) and Alan Mocahbee (.342 BA, 6 HR, 21 RBIs) lead the offense along with Will Golden (.387 BA, 3 HR, 24 RBIs) and Jesus Monserrat (.381 BA, 10 RBIs, 6 SBs). Middle Georgia averages 6.9 runs per game with a team .305 batting average and has compiled a team ERA of 5.27.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Baseball Record Book
Sun Conference Baseball Standings
