Bluffton, S.C.—Head coach Bailey Wigness and the staff at USCB have announced the 2019 softball schedule. The Sand Sharks, who finished 37-21 and Sun Conference tournament runners-up a year ago, will open their season February 1 against the visiting Koalas of Columbia College (S.C.).
 
USCB will enjoy five home contests out of the first seven matchups to begin their season, with Truett-McConnell (Ga.) looming large in late February before the Sand Sharks head on the road. The Bears finished No. 23 in the NAIA in the June 6 Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
 
The schedule does not get any friendlier for USCB as they will then hit the road to face Rio Grande (Ohio), another team who went to the post-season last year, at the Reinhardt University (Ga.) tournament which takes place over the last weekend in February.
 
"For us the most important game in our season is always the next one, so right now that's our opener against Columbia College," said Wigness earlier this week. "We know that the team that plays the best that day is going to win no matter where they finished in the final polls. We are going to respect every opponent, and we will certainly not take any team lightly. If we execute our game, regardless of who is in the other dugout, we are going to put ourselves in a position to win."
 
USCB will continue to be road warriors through the early part of March when they face Brewton-Parker, Sun Conference foe No. 17 Thomas University (Ga.) and then No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett.
 
Regarding the heavy travel in late February and early March, Wigness noted, "The biggest thing will be managing the pitching and making sure we are smart about the rotation. Playing back-to-back days is tough, and there are times when we'll play back to back to back. Add traveling into the mix and their bodies may not always feel 100%. It will be important to make sure we manage that aspect of it. We have a staff of six pitchers who are all very capable of getting outs and putting us in a position to win games, and they've all been preparing for the long season ahead."
 
After their trip to Lawrenceville, Georgia, the team will face Sun Conference competition 11 times in the final 14 series of the regular season, including tough tests on the road at Ave Maria (Fla.), St. Thomas (Fla.) and Webber International (Fla.).
 
USCB will have the luxury of home series with No. 24 Southeastern (Fla.), Webber International (Fla.), No. 17 Thomas (Ga.), Ave Maria (Fla.), Keiser (Fla.) and Coastal Georgia.
 
The 2019 season is full of promise for the group that went to the Sun Conference championship game a season ago. "I am beyond excited," Wigness added. "The growth this team has made from September to now is incredible. Not just on the field, but how they have developed as students and as people. I asked them to get 1% better every day in everything that they do, and they have far exceeded that. If we continue on this path we will be a very fun team to watch this season. There's a lot of potential, from top to bottom, and I am excited to see the final product on the field come February. I think you'll see a well-prepared team, a very disciplined team, and a very hungry team after last season. There will be challenges, but our culture is strong and our leadership is emerging. If we trust in our process and play Sand Shark Softball we'll put ourselves in a position to win a lot of ball games."
 
For complete schedule information click here.