Hardeeville, SC-- The USCB baseball team took the first two games of a three-game series from Fisher College (Mass.) this evening at Richard Gray Sports Complex, defeating the Falcons 9-8 and 9-4.
The Sand Sharks were tied withe Falcons going into the seventh inning of the first game before Fisher was able to apply the pressure by scoring a run in the top of the frame. Finding themselves down one run in the last half-inning of the game, the Sand Sharks put together a rally.
Chris Vazquez got things started with a single through the right side before stealing second.
Nick Delbianco then put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Vazquez to third base.
Noah Matthews was able knock the tying run in off his RBI-single to right field, which was then muffed by the Falcons' right fielder, allowing Matthews to reach third base.
Kelvin Brito then put the exclamation point on the game with his walk-off-RBI-single through the right side to bring Matthews home.
On the mound for the Sand Sharks in the first game,
Zac Burke and
Ryan Reynolds handled the pitching duties. Reynolds picked up the win, facing 10 batters while forcing through three flyouts and one groundout.
In the second game of the double-header, behind the strong performance of freshman pitcher
Zach Hall, USCB jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first three innings. The Sand Sharks then added four more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to reach a total of nine runs. The Falcons put together a small rally in the top of the seventh inning before
Harrison Merck was able to shut down the Falcons and close out the game for USCB. Hall picked up the win, going five innings, giving up four hits and one run, while striking out four.
The third game of the series begins at 12 pm tomorrow. Live coverage will be available at
www.uscbathletics.com/live.
