| USCB (14-9) at Ave Maria (13-6) |
| Date & Time |
Friday, 2 p.m. ET
Saturday, 11 a.m. (DH) |
| Location |
Richard Gray Sports Complex – Hardeeville, S.C. |
| TV/Web |
Stretch Internet |
| Live Stats |
Stretch Internet |
| Facebook |
/USCBSandSharks |
| Twitter |
@USCBAthletics |
| Head-To-Head |
All-Time: USCB leads 14-4
Current Streak: USCB won last 3
All-Time At AMU: USCB leads 5-1
Current Streak At USCB: USCB won last 1 |
FIN FACTS
»» The USCB softball team open Sun Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Ave Maria. The Sand Sharks own a 14-4 edge in the all-time series and won three of four meetings last season, including two in the Sun Conference Tournament.
»» The Sand Sharks entered the season receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. USCB was picked to finish third in the Sun Conference coaches' preseason poll.
»» USCB has faced a difficult early-season schedule. The Sand Sharks are 3-4 against Top-25 opponents with wins over No. 10 William Carey and No. 12 Campbellsville and losses to No. 8 Lindsey Wilson, No. 16 Reinhardt and No. 13 Georgia Gwinnett (twice), as well as a doubleheader split with No. 24 Rio Grande.
»» After playing 14 of its first 16 games at home, the Sand Sharks will not compete at Richard Gray Sports Complex until they welcome Sun Conference rival Keiser for a three-game series on March 24-25.
»» 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 168 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.
»» Sophomore OF Kayla Boyle is riding a nine-game hitting streak and has nine multi-hit games this season.
»» The Sand Sharks have collected 32 stolen bases in 23 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 Gyrenes recently won nine straight but dropped their last three contests at the Gulf Coast Invitational. Ave Maria is hitting .329 as a team and has posted a 2.43 team ERA. Marinna Shadley has been the catalyst for the offense, batting .531 with 10 doubles and 10 stolen bases, while two-way player Sadie Mosher is 5-2 with a 1.52 ERA on the mound and batting .298 with five home runs and 17 RBIs at the plate.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Softball Record Book
Sun Conference Softball Standings
