HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - In the first mid-week doubleheader of the 2020 season, USCB baseball split with first-year program Columbia International, 3-1 and 9-2, on Tuesday afternoon at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Tavaris Terrell - 1-for-2, two RBIs, one run

Leandy Castro - 2-for-3, double

Tristan Triplett - 1-for-3, one RBI

Keith Olmo - 2-for-3, one run

Ismael Martinez - four innings, one hit, one run (unearned), five strikeouts

Tanner Davis - three innings, two hits, no runs, no walks, win

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

The first three innings flew by for both teams, as USCB and CIU combined for just two hits during that stretch. Martinez was strong on the mound, as he allowed no runs, one hit and struck out three.

After USCB threatened to score in the bottom of the third, CIU scored the game's first run off a wild pitch. Kody Trujillo doubled with two outs, and he later advanced to third on a fielding error. 

Columbia International threatened to add on runs in the top of the fifth, as the Rams collected back-to-back singles. However, Davis left the Ram duo on base.

The Sand Sharks finally broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. CIU made a pitching change, and USCB posted three hits in the first four at-bats. Highlighting that stretch was Terrell's two-RBI single up the middle to give USCB the 2-1 lead. Terrell later stole second and moved to third off a David Villafane ground out. Terrell then touched home thanks to a Triplett RBI base knock to advance the lead to 3-1. 

Davis found his groove and closed out the game for the Sand Sharks, as he held the Rams' offense in-check for the final two innings. The senior right-handed pitcher earned his first win of the season after tossing three innings.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Triplett - 1-for-3, RBI

Terrell - 1-for-2

Griffin Cassell - 2.2 innings, three hits, one run (unearned), no walks, two strikeouts

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

After a quick top of the first, USCB's offense plated a pair of runs in the home half of the first. Olmo reached safely thanks to a fielding error, and the senior eventually reached third base thanks to a balk and a stolen base. Triplett opened the scoring with a single through the left side. The Sand Sharks forced the bases loaded off a walk and a hit by pitch, and Nick Milhan plated the second and final run of the inning off a sacrifice fly. 

After quiet second frame, CIU took control of the contest with a six-run third inning. The Rams scored four of their runs with two outs, as they took a 6-2 lead.

Columbia International added a pair of insurance runs in the fourth and a lone run in the sixth to take a seven-run lead, 9-2. 

USCB's offense struggled in the middle of the game, as it went 1-2-3 in three straight innings. 

The Sand Shark offense broke that stretch in the sixth with a hit but couldn't score.

USCB found momentum in the final inning, as it took advance of several quality at-bats that resulted in walks. Marino Sorbara, Villafane, Olmo and Triplett all drew walks in the frame, but none of them scored. 

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 2-4 overall

Columbia International - 4-4 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

The USCB baseball team will take a two-day break and will quickly open Sun Conference play with a three-game series against Florida Memorial. The set begins with a nine-inning doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. and concludes on Saturday, Feb. 15 at noon.