BLUFFTON, S.C. - Following an undefeated opening week for USCB baseball and softball, both Sand Shark squads return to the diamond to face new opponents at Richard Gray Stadium.
Baseball - Three-Game Series Versus Point
The Sand Sharks baseball team will return to Hardeeville, S.C. this weekend when USCB welcomes Point to Richard Gray Stadium. The two teams will clash in a three-game series beginning on Friday, Feb. 7. On that day, the two teams will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m., and the series will conclude on Saturday, Feb. 8 with a lone game at noon.
USCB is off to an undefeated 2020 season, as it upended Mid-Atlantic Christian in the home opener. The Sand Sharks played played one 9-inning contest against the first-year program at Richard Gray, and USCB downed the Mustangs, 6-0, to commence the year.
USCB used seven different pitchers in the outing, and they combined for 12 strikeouts. Eamonn Collins, who started the game, headlined the outings with a four-strikeout performance in two innings of work. Harrison Bell, who earned the win, collected a trio of strikeouts in two innings as well. Matt Malatesta and Ryan Reynolds also ended their outings with two strikeouts each.
Offensively, USCB rattled off 12 hits against MACU. Leandy Castro had a team-best, three-hit game, as he was the only Sand Shark to connect with an extra-base knock. He also touched home once. Keith Olmo and Nick Milhan totaled two-hit performances, and Jay Newell, Alexander Humphrey, Clint Sellers and Kyran Russ all finished with one RBI each.
Point is off to an undefeated season so far as well, as the Skyhawks are 3-0. They opened their 2020 campaign with a three-game sweep of Pikeville at home. They will play a lone game at Tuskegee on Tuesday, Feb. 4 before heading to the Lowcountry on Friday.
In the three-game series with Pikeville, Point outscored the opposition by 23 runs, 31-8. Vincent Volpatti and Brendon Perez are pacing the Skyhawk offense so far, as they each have seven hits. Perez has had fewer at-bats, as he leads the Point team in batting average (.700). Perez is also pacing the team in extra-base hits, as he has a home and three doubles.
The Skyhawks only used seven pitchers in the three-game series versus Pikeville. Keagan Spradlin, Eduardo Munoz and Harrison Osborn each started a game, and they combined for nine strikeouts in 14 innings. Eric Braughton had the best relief outing this past weekend, as he twirled two frames with five strikeouts.
All three games at Richard Gray Stadium will be streamed on the Sand Shark Gameday Network, and that link can be found by clicking HERE. Live stats for all three games can be found by clicking HERE.
Softball - Doubleheader Versus Columbia International and St. Andrews
USCB softball also continues its stretch at Richard Gray Stadium, as it will play four contests this weekend - two versus Columbia International and two versus St. Andrews. First pitch of the doubleheader versus the Rams is slated for 2 p.m., while the contests versus the Knights is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Like baseball, the softball team opened the 2020 season undefeated - 2-0. The Sand Sharks upended Montreat, 5-2 and 6-0.
Senior Emily Martin was a headline for the Sand Sharks, as she collected four total hits on Sunday versus the Cavaliers. Of the four base knocks, three of them were doubles, and with her three-double performance in game one versus Montreat, she matched a school recorded for most doubles in a single game.
Freshman Jodi Hatcher was also impressive in series-opening doubleheader, as the Chesterfield, S.C. native tallied four hits - all singles. She also finished the day with a RBI.
The USCB pitching staff was stellar against the AAC member, as Maria Molloseau, Sloan Ducey, Caitlin Toole and Rachel Catt all appeared on Sunday. Molloseau started game one and twirled five innings without allowing a run and struck out a team-high four batters. Ducey started game two, and the sophomore went four innings without a run or walk. Toole earned a save in her first collegiate appearance, as the rookie worked three innings of shutout ball. Catt allowed just one earned run in two innings.
Columbia International is also undefeated to open the 2020 season. The Rams played Trinity Baptist on the road and won 6-3 and 4-3. They will play Coastal Georgia on Feb. 7 before traveling to Hardeeville to face the Sand Sharks.
St. Andrews played at Barton on Feb. 2, and the Knights were outscored, 16-3, in the doubleheader. They will face off with Methodist on Feb. 4 before traveling to Hardeeville for a doubleheader on Feb. 9.
All four games at Richard Gray Stadium will be streamed on the Sand Shark Gameday Network, and that link can be found by clicking HERE. Live stats for all four games can be found by clicking HERE.
