HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Behind stellar pitching and a four-run fifth inning, USCB baseball opened the 2020 season with a 6-0 shutout of Mid-Atlantic Christian at Richard Gray on Saturday afternoon.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Leandy Castro - 3-for-4, double and two singles, one run scored

Keith Olmo and Nick Milhan - 2-for-4, two singles and one run scored each

USCB used seven different pitchers. The pitching staff struck out 12 batters, allowed three walks and just two hits in the nine-inning game.

Eamonn Collins, Matt Malatesta and Harrison Bell combined for six innings, nine strikeouts and held MACU hitless in their combined effort. 

Ryan Reynolds, Tanner Davis, Braxton Copley and Cam Mathis all appeared on the hill and also held the Mustangs off the scoreboard in the season opener.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both offenses struggled early in the season-opening contest. The Sand Sharks collected a pair of hits in both the first and second innings but couldn't score thanks to strong defensive play from the Mustangs. MACU earned its first base runner in the third inning but couldn't muster a hit in the first half of the game.

Collins, Malatesta and Bell all worked two innings apiece for USCB, and they combined for nine strikeouts without allowing a MACU hit. 

The Sand Shark offense finally broke through in the fifth frame with a four-run inning. Melquan Depugh opened the inning with a walk, and two batters later, Tristan Triplett was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Daniel Searles opened the scoring off his single to shortstop. The MACU infielder sailed his throw to first base, which allowed Depugh to score easily. Triplett then doubled USCB's advantage, as the senior scored on a wild pitch. Mid-Atlantic Christian made a pitching change, and USCB rattled off back-to-back hits to force the bases loaded. The Sand Sharks ended the frame with two straight RBI walks from Jay Newell and Clint Sellers to push the lead to 4-0.

MACU had a chance to score in the top of the seventh, when it collected its first hit of the game. With two outs, the Mustangs forced the bases loaded, but Davis came in relief and forced a groundout to end the threat.

To end the scoring in the season opener, USCB added a pair of runs in the home half of the seventh. Milhan and Castro started the inning with back-to-back hits. Alexander Humphrey plated Milhan from third, and Kyran Russ scored Castro off his sacrifice fly with one out. 

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 1-0 overall

Mid-Atlantic Christian - 0-1 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB will return to Richard Gray Stadium on Friday, Feb. 7, as the Sand Shark welcome Point to the Lowcountry. The Sand Sharks and Skyhawks will play a three-game set beginning with a doubleheader on Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. and will conclude the series on Feb. 8 at noon.