HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Alexander Humphrey nearly provided the answer for the USCB baseball team on Friday, Feb. 28, as the upperclassman smoked the game-tying, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Sand Sharks fell, 6-5, to Toccoa Falls in extra innings at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Humphrey - 3-for-4, three-run home run, four RBIs

Nick Milhan - 3-for-5, double, one run

Tristan Triplett - 2-for-5, double, one run

Noah Matthews - 1-for-4, double, one RBI

Tanner Davis - six innings, one hit, two runs, eight strikeouts

Ryan Reynolds - one inning, one hit, no runs, no walks

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, USCB took advantage by scoring the game's first run. With two outs, Leandy Castro cracked a double to left, and Humphrey plated his teammate on a single to right field. The run-scoring hit gave USCB the 1-0 advantage.

The Screaming Eagles quickly answered in the top of the second, when Kodi Bishop knocked a two-run home run to give TFC the one-run lead, 2-1.

Neither team found success, as both squads either went 1-2-3 or only sent up four batters to the plate, until the bottom of the sixth. USCB sent up six batters in that inning, which was highlighted by singles from Humphrey and Milhan. Matthews walked with two outs to force the bases loaded, but USCB left all three runners stranded. 

In the top of the seventh, Toccoa Falls added an insurance run when Brandon Sewell collected a two-out, run-scoring single.

After scoreless bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth, the Sand Sharks made it a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh, 3-2. Milhan started the rally with a double down the left field line, and Matthews smacked a single through the left side to score Milhan without a throw.

Toccoa Falls again quickly answered in the ninth with a three-run frame. Landon McLane and Darren Long had run-scoring hits for Toccoa Falls to push the lead to 5-2.

USCB didn't cave in the bottom of the ninth, as it tied the game at 5-5. Triplett and Castro started the rally with back-to-back walks, and Humphrey made it hurt, as he uncorked on USCB's first home run of the 2020 season. The long ball was Humphrey's first career homer in a Sand Shark uniform as well.

The Screaming Eagles again had an answer in the top of the 10th, when it scored a one-out run off a Bishop sacrifice fly.

The Sand Sharks tried to work some two-out magic in the bottom of the 10th when Keith Olmo reached base on a hit by pitch. The senior advanced to third on a stolen base and a throwing error. Triplett tried to plate the tying run, but he grounded out to end the contest. 

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 3-7 overall

Toccoa Falls - 4-7 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB and Toccoa Falls will conclude the three-game, non-conference series on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Richard Gray Stadium with a doubleheader. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon, and the second game will start at approximately 3 p.m.