HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - For the eighth time in school history, USCB baseball senior Jack Slavin matched a school record, as the outfielder collected five hits in the series finale loss, 12-8, to No. 4 St. Thomas on Monday afternoon at Richard Gray Stadium.
Slavin collected five hits in the four-run loss, which marks the eighth time in program history a Sand Shark has accomplished that feat. The last time it occurred was April 8, 2016 when Max Balter tallied five hits against Webber International.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Slavin - 5-for-5, five singles, three RBIs, one run
Leandy Castro - 2-for-6, double, single, two RBIs, one run
Clint Sellers - 1-for-4, triple, two RBIs, two walks, one run
Daniel Searles and Tavaris Terrell - two singles each
Ryan Reynolds - 1.1 innings, two hits, no runs, no walks
Javier Saenz - one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks
Glenn Williams - one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks, one strikeout
Eamonn Collins - one inning, one hit, no runs, one strikeout
HOW IT HAPPENED
STU's offense jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, as five of those runs were scored with no outs in the first frame.
Despite being down 6-0, USCB's offense put pressure on the Bobcats in the home half of the first, as the Sand Sharks forced the bases loaded. However, all three were left stranded.
Just an inning later, though, USCB's offense broke through with a pair of runs to make it a 6-2 contest. Slavin and Brock Thibodeaux reached base safely, and Castro made it hurt with a two-RBI double.
STU stretched its lead to 9-2 in the top of the third off two hits and an error.
Again, USCB didn't cave, as it posted a two-run home half of the fourth to make it 9-4. Slavin and Ambrose collected both RBIs for USCB in the frame.
The Bobcats added two runs in the top of the fourth to make the game 11-4, and they held the Sand Sharks scoreless for the next three innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, USCB's offense broke through with a pair of runs when Sellers cracked a two-RBI triple to right field. With the two-run scoring hit, it made the contest a five-run game, 11-6.
The Bobcats answered with a run in the top of the eighth, but USCB, again, totaled two runs to make it a four-run ballgame, 12-8. Slavin poked a single to center, and Brian Meyer and Marino Sorbara each scored for USCB in the inning.
Both teams went down quietly in the ninth inning, as the No. 4 team in the country sealed the 12-8 win on Monday.
TEAM RECORD UPDATES
USCB - 6-7 overall, 2-4 The Sun Conference
No. 4 St. Thomas - 8-4 overall, 5-1 The Sun Conference
WHAT'S NEXT?
Without taking a day of rest, USCB will travel to Edward Waters on Tuesday, Feb. 23, as the two clubs will face off at 2 and 4:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla. Both games will be seven innings in length.
