MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - For the first time since April 5, 2019, the USCB baseball team won a Sun Conference series on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, as the Sand Sharks upended Florida Memorial, 4-2, at Harry T. Moore Field. Payton MacPherson and Eamonn Collins combined for just one earned run, while Leandy Castro tallied the go-ahead, two-RBI single in the top of the eighth.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

MacPherson - seven innings, two runs (one earned), six hits, no walks, seven strikeouts, win

Collins - two innings, no runs, no walks, one strike, save

Castro - 1-for-4, go-ahead 2-RBI single

Marino Sorbara - 1-for-4, single, two runs

Brian Meyer - 1-for-4, single, one run

Daniel Searles - 0-for-2, sacrifice fly

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first five innings went by quickly for both teams, as it was a pitcher's duel during that stretch. MacPherson worked all five innings for the Sand Sharks, as he held the Lions scoreless and to just three hits during that stretch. FMU's starting pitcher - Juan Hernandez - was just as strong, as he held the Sand Sharks to no runs and no hits.

The shutout for both teams eventually ended in the sixth frame when both clubs plated a run. Sorbara scored USCB's first run in the inning, as he took advantage of several Lion fielding mistakes to touch home easily. The Lions also took advantage of an error to knot the game at 1-1. 

Following a scare in the bottom of the seventh, USCB's offense plated a pair of runs thanks to Castro. Sorbara started the rally with a one-out single, and Wesley Ambrose reached base on a throwing error by the catcher to put both Sand Sharks in scoring position. Following a ground out, Castro snuck the go-ahead, two-RBI single with two outs through the left side. Ambrose slid in safely to give USCB the 3-1 lead. 

Florida Memorial didn't surrender, despite being down two runs, as it made it a one-run game with two-out magic of its own. Jalen Young tallied a two-out, run-scoring single to make it a 3-2 contest. 

USCB quickly regained its two-run lead in the final inning when Searles cracked a sacrifice fly to center to plate Meyer. 

After coming in relief in the eighth, Collins slammed the door in the home half of the ninth via two fly outs and a strikeout. He earned the save, which was his third of the 2021 campaign.

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 6-4 overall, 2-1 The Sun Conference

Florida Memorial - 3-3 overall, 1-2 The Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB returns to the friendly confines of Richard Gray Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 16, as the Sand Sharks will face off with St. Andrews for a fifth time in 2021. First pitch in Hardeeville, S.C. is scheduled for 2 p.m.