HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Using just five pitchers in the doubleheader, the USCB baseball team split with AAC member Milligan, 2-1 and 4-0, behind stellar pitching (only three hits allowed in 13-plus innings) on Saturday afternoon at CIU Baseball Field. 

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Brian Bromley - four innings, one hit, one run, three strikeouts, 73 pitches

Payton MacPherson - two innings, one hit, one run, no walks, two strikeouts

Leandy Castro - 1-for-3, single, one RBI, one walk

Marino Sorbara - 1-for-2, single, one run

Alexander Humphrey and Tavaris Terrell - one single each

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

Both teams started the contest going 1-2-3, but in the second inning, USCB threatened to plate runs thanks to walks from Clint Sellers and Humphrey. The Sand Shark duo, unfortunately, was left stranded due to a pair of strikeouts to end the frame.

Milligan took advantage with a pair of walks and a hit to take the 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the second. 

The Sand Sharks continued to battle, as USCB had a trio of players reach base in the top of the third. Sorbara led the inning off with an infield single, and Brian Meyer and Sellers followed with walks. The Sand Sharks couldn't muster two-out magic to leave them on the base baths.

USCB had at least one runner on base for the next several frames, but in the top of the seventh, USCB used old-school baseball to knot the game at 1-1. Sorbara walked to lead off, and Nick Milhan laid down a sacrifice bunt to put his teammate in scoring position. Following a strikeout, Castro came up clutch with the game-tying, two-out hit to plate Sorbara.

The lead disappeared in the home half of the seventh, as Anthony Guzman cracked the game-winning homer to take game one, 2-1. 

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Matt Malatesta - five innings, one hit, no runs, three strikeouts, 66 pitches

Griffin Cassell - one inning, no runs, no hits, one strikeout

Eamonn Collins - one inning, no runs, no hits, one strikeout

Milhan - 1-for-3, single, two RBIs

Meyer - 1-for-3, single, one run

Sellers - 0-for-1, one walk, one RBI, one run 

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

USCB struggled offensively the first time through the order, as it went 1-2-3 for the first three frames.

After a pitching change, the Sand Sharks started to put quality at-bats together, including drawing a pair of walks in the top of the fourth.

In the sixth inning, USCB finally broke through with a long, four-run inning. Sorbara reached on a fielding error, and Meyer reached on a bunt base hit. After a pitching change, Castro roped a single to force the bases loaded in a scoreless matchup. Sellers and Humphrey followed with back-to-back hit by pitches to give USCB the 2-0 lead. With one out, Milhan made it hurt by doubling the lead thanks to a two-run single to left field. Milligan was forced to make another pitching change, and the alteration stopped the bleeding. 

Milligan gave the Sand Sharks a scare in the bottom of the sixth, as the Buffs were able to force the bases loaded. However, Cassell worked out of the jam with a strikeout, pop out and a ground out. 

Collins came into the seventh inning for USCB, and he allowed just one base runner via a walk. However, he struck out and popped out the final two batters to seal the four-run win.

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 1-1 overall

Milligan - 1-1 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB will take a week off the prepare for a three-game weekend where it will play two games versus Mid-Atlantic Christian and one game versus Carolina University. All three games will be held in Elizabeth City, N.C.