HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Behind Kryan Russ' walk-off single and Eamonn Collins' compete-game shutout of Toccoa Falls, the Sand Shark duo lifted USCB baseball to 2-1 and 3-0 wins over the Screaming Eagles on Saturday afternoon at Richard Gray Stadium.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Russ - 1-for-1, walk-off, game-winning single
Clint Sellers - 2-for-3
Keith Olmo - 1-for-2, one run, two walks
Matt Malatesta - six innings, four hits, one run, no walks, five strikeouts
Braxton Copley - one inning, win, one hit, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
The first inning-and-a-half went quickly for both teams, as they went 1-2-3. USCB broke that stretch, as Sellers collected the game's first hit in the bottom of the second.
USCB and TFC combined for three hits in the third inning, which included a pair of base knocks from USCB. David Villafane and Olmo collected singles with one out, but they were left stranded at first and second base.
After quiet fourth and fifth innings, Toccoa Falls scored the game's first run in the top of the sixth. Brandon Tamayo singled to start the rally, and he moved to second on a wild pitch. After a groundout that moved Tamayo to third, Landon McLane plated his teammate off a double to right center to give the Screaming Eagles the 1-0 lead.
The Sand Sharks plated their first run in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game at 1-all. Leandy Castro started the rally with a single, and he moved into scoring position via a stolen base. Alexander Humphrey walked to put two runners on base. Marino Sorbara came on to pinch run for Humphrey, and Castro and Sorbara both improved 90 feet on a double steal. Sellers put the ball in play, but Castro was called out at home on a putout. With Sorbara on third, Melquan Depugh collected a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game, 1-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Olmo collected an eight-pitch walk, and he moved into scoring position on a stolen base. Russ came in to pinch hit for Tristan Triplett, and Russ poked a seeing-eye single through the right side, which scored his teammate from second. The run gave USCB the 2-1 win and evened the three-game series at one apiece.
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Villafane - 2-for-2, one RBI
Mathew Morgan - 1-for-2, one walk
Castro - 1-for-2, one run
Collins - seven innings, complete-game victory, two hits, no runs, no walks, five strikeouts
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, USCB opened the scoring with a two-run second frame. After two quick outs, Morgan drew a five-pitch walk, and Noah Matthews poked a single through the right side to put runners at the corners. Villafane took advantage with a RBI single. During the play, the Screaming Eagle shortstop overthrew first base, which allowed Matthews to score as well. The single and error gave the Sand Sharks the 2-0 lead.
Just one frame later, the Sand Sharks posted back-to-back singles from Castro and Humphrey. The Sand Shark duo moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Nick Milhan capitalized on a safety squeeze, which plated Castro from third base and gave USCB the three-run lead, 3-0.
Collins really settled in for the remainder of the contest, as he went 1-2-3 in three of the final four frames. With his dominating performance on the hill, Collins lifted the Sand Sharks to the 3-0 shutout of TFC.
TEAM RECORD UPDATES
USCB - 5-7 overall
Toccoa Falls - 4-9 overall
WHAT'S NEXT?
USCB is scheduled to play its first two games on the road this season, as it travels to Brewton-Parker on March 3 for a non-conference doubleheader. The Sand Sharks and Barons will play two, seven-inning games beginning at 2 p.m. in Mount Vernon, Ga.
