BLUFFTON, S.C. - Six USCB teams are back in action this week - Feb. 1-7 - as men's and women's track and field travels for the Sun Conference Indoor Championships and softball hosts a doubleheader with Montreat.
To view the composite schedule, click HERE.
Men's Golf - at Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate
The USCB men's golf team wraps up competition at the Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate today - Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. Dawson Peters is currently tied for first in the highly-competitive DI tournament and leads several Power Five golfers on the individual leaderboard. The Urbandale, Iowa native is currently 3-under 141 and is tied with Tim Tillmanns of Kansas State.
Results from the individual-only tournament will be posted at uscbathletics.com following the conclusion of the three-round outing.
Baseball - at Mid-Atlantic Christian (Feb. 5 and Feb. 6) and vs. Carolina University (Feb. 6)
USCB started its 2021 season with a non-conference split with Milligan on Jan. 30. The two clubs were in a pitching duel, as USCB used five pitchers (13-plus inning) and combined for only three hits allowed and one run). Brian Bromley started the season opener and twirled four innings and allowed just one hit and one run. Matt Malatesta worked the second game and pitched five innings of shutout, one-hit ball.
Offensively, Leandy Castro was the lone Sand Shark with multiple hits on Saturday - both singles. Nick Milhan came up clutch in the two seven-inning games, as he collected a hit and two RBIs.
Friday's game will be the season opener for MACU, while it will be the second series of the year for Carolina University. In last year's head-to-head contest versus the Mustangs, USCB downed MACU, 6-0, as seven Sand Shark pitchers combined for two hits, no runs and 12 strikeouts. Carolina, formerly Piedmont International, dropped both games this year, 8-4 and 7-5, to Marian, and a year ago, the Bruins went 6-9 in the COVID-shortened campaign.
The three games at MACU will not be streamed nor will have live stats. Updates on the game will be provided through USCBBaseball on Twitter and at uscbathletics.com following the conclusion of the three games.
Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field - at Sun Conference Indoor Championships
For its final tuneup of the regular season, the USCB men's and women's track and field teams traveled back to Birmingham, Ala. for the KMS Open on Sunday, Jan. 31. Shamar Deacon won the men's 600m, as he set a new personal record with a 1:21.58. Mel Obadiah Jr. finished third in the men's 800, and the Witchita State transfer clocked a 1:55.00, as he also set a personal record.
Kadari Mitchell (200m) and the USCB men's 4x400m relay capped off the solid results for the Sand Sharks, as they both placed sixth in their respective events.
The Sun Conference Indoor Championships will be a one-day meet and will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 in Thomasville, Ga. The postseason meet will be held at the Hornets' Nest and will be an all-day event.
Women's Soccer - vs. Cumberland (Grizzly Soccer Complex - Lawrenceville, Ga.)
The Sand Sharks are fresh off a stellar weekend, where they won a pair of games by a combined 11-0 over Florida College on the road. Mari Kalvatn was a lot to handle in the two-game weekend, as the sophomore totaled five of the 11 goals for USCB. Isabella Ahlen Jakobs also had a productive weekend, as the fellow classmate recorded one goal and three assists. Madline Matusik also saw her name on the scoresheet with one goal and three assists, which came in Saturday's 6-0 win.
Alana Dame was also strong, as the rookie goalkeeper was credited with a pair of shutout victories.
Cumberlands is a strong team in 2021, but the Patriots have only played two games this year - both of which were played in the fall. UC will open the weekend with a bout with Georgia Gwinnett on Feb. 5 and will then square off with the Sand Sharks on Feb. 6 in Lawrenceville.
Shara Randez leads the Patriot offense, as she has a trio of goals in 117 minutes off the bench. Selena Barnett and Alanna Skinner have also tallied goals this year, while Barnett is second on the team in points with three.
Kickoff between USCB and Cumberlands is slated for Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. at Grizzly Soccer Complex. The non-conference bout won't have a live stream, but GGC is providing live stats. The live stats link can be found by clicking HERE.
Softball - Doubleheader vs. Montreat
The Sand Shark softball team is off to an undefeated start to 2021, 2-0, as it swept Columbia International, 2-1 and 4-0, at home on Saturday afternoon. The pitching staff on Saturday - Maria Molloseau and Ally Muraskin - dazzled, as they combined for two complete games, no earned runs, 11 strikeouts, no walks and four hits.
Offensively, Rachel Frankhouser was on base every plate appearance, as she totaled three hits and a walk. Amber Locasto was also stellar, as the shortstop posted three singles and a team-best, three-RBI day. Shania Domingue collected a trio of hits as well, one of which was a double. As a team, USCB hit .298 with 14 hits, five RBIs, five walks, three stolen bases and just four strikeouts.
Montreat will open its season on Feb. 5, as it travels to Brewton-Parker for a doubleheader. The Cavaliers will then play Sun Conference member Coastal Georgia on Saturday and will then cap off the three-day, six-game weekend with USCB in Hardeeville beginning at noon.
The Cavaliers went 8-10 a year ago and 21-26 in 2019. Last year, MC hit .285 as a team with 139 total hits. Of the 139 hits, 23 were doubles, four were triples and eight were home runs. Grackyn Green had five of the team's eight homers, while Mikki Shelton led the team with a .509 batting average and three triples.
The two games at Richard Gray Stadium will be streamed on the Sand Shark Gameday Network on the Sun Conference Digital Network, and that link can be found by clicking HERE. Live stats for the home contests can be found by clicking HERE.
