FIN FACTS
»» The USCB softball team wraps up Sun Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against visiting No. 24 Warner. The Royals sit atop the Sun Conference standings, leading Southeastern by one game, while the Sand Sharks are fifth in the standings, one game ahead of Keiser.
»» USCB will honor four seniors – 2B Marissa Becker, P Naomi Catt, UTIL Kendall Jumper, and student manager Courtney Prince – during a ceremony between games of Saturday's doubleheader.
»» The top five teams qualify for the Sun Conference Tournament, and Keiser holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over USCB, so the Sand Sharks must match or exceed the Seahawks' win total in their three-game series at Ave Maria this weekend to earn the final berth.
»» Sophomore OF Kayla Boyle had a program-best 20-game hitting streak earlier this season and has hit safely in 38 of the Sand Sharks' 45 games.
»» Senior 2B Marissa Becker leads the team with 18 multi-hit games, including nine contests with three or more hits. Becker's 65 hits this season rank fourth on USCB's single-season list, one behind current assistant coach Alexandria Simmons for third.
»» Becker has a team-high 14 stolen bases this season and 47 in her career, surpassing Sammi Shaffren (43) for USCB's all-time lead. Becker also holds the USCB records for triples in a season (6) and career (9).
»» Freshman OF Taylor Boykin has reached base in 14 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the team.
»» Sophomore P Abby Pac's 125 strikeouts this season rank sixth on USCB's single-season list. Ashlie Layman is fifth with 128 in 2014.
»» 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 47 stolen bases in 45 games after swiping 53 in 55 games a year ago. Becker (14) and freshman OF Brittany Olean (9) lead USCB on the bases.
»» USCB is 121-25 all-time at home, including a 15-7 mark this season.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Royals have been one of the biggest surprises in the nation in 2017, going from 5-8 in Sun Conference play a year ago to the top of the standings this year. They've won five of their last six games. Pitchers Chelsie Valentine (12-6, 1.58 ERA) and Paige Davis (5-2, 1.69 ERA) have led the dramatic turnaround, but the Royals also boast a .295 team batting average with Jessica Adams (.376 BA, 29 RBIs) leading the way.
RELATED LINKS
USCB Schedule and Results
USCB Season Statistics
Sand Shark Softball Record Book
Sun Conference Softball Standings
