HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Senior right-handed pitcher Eamonn Collins had a strong outing on Friday night, but the USCB baseball team suffered its first loss of the year, 4-1, to undefeated Point at Richard Gray Stadium. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Collins - five innings, five hits, two runs, five strikeouts

Caleb Clark - one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks, three strikeouts

Javier Saenz - one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks

Leandy Castro - 1-for-3, double, one RBI

Keith Olmo, Alexander Humphrey, Tavaris Terrell and Tristan Triplett - one hit each

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first four innings for both teams flew by, as USCB and Point combined for just five hits in that stretch. The Skyhawks had a chance to open the scoring in the second frame with a leadoff triple, but an out at home followed by a fielder's choice and a lineout held PU scoreless.

In the top of the fifth, Point opened the scoring with a two-out rally. Vincent Volpatti walked and stole second, and the leadoff hitter scored on Dillon Brown's double to center. Jakobe Smith followed with a single, which plated Brown and gave the Skyhawks the 2-0 lead.

USCB retaliated with its first run of the contest in the home half of the sixth. The Sand Sharks started the inning with a leadoff walk from Jack Slavin. Slavin moved into scoring position thanks to a groundout, and he scored on a two-out double down the left field line from Castro.

Now up 2-1, Point advanced its lead to three off of back-to-back extra-base knocks from Smith and McClintock. 

The Sand Sharks tried to mount a comeback in both the eighth and ninth innings, but they could only muster two hits in the final two frames

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 1-1 overall

Point - 5-0 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB and Point will conclude the three-game, non-conference series on Saturday, Feb. 8, as the two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon at Richard Gray Stadium.