HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Behind 17 combined runs, 29 combined hits and 24 combined strikeouts from the Sand Shark pitching corps, the USCB baseball team took a doubleheader sweep over RV Warner, 9-8 (10 innings) and 8-3, to win the series over the Royals on Friday, March 26 at Richard Gray Stadium.

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Tim Wood - 3-for-4, three singles, three RBIs

Clint Sellers - 3-for-6, two doubles, one single, three runs

Leandy Castro - 3-for-6, double, two singles, one run

Kyran Russ - 3-for-5, three singles, one RBI

Alexander Humphrey - 1-for-4, double, one RBI, three runs

Nick Milhan - 1-for-4, two RBIs, one run

Tavaris Terrell - 1-for-4, one RBI, one run

Blaize Minick - 4.2 innings, four hits, two earned runs, seven strikeouts

Payton MacPherson - win, 4.1 innings, three hits, one run, three strikeouts

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

USCB started the game quickly in the first inning, as it plated a pair of runs with two outs. Castro started the rally with a double, and after two fly outs, Humphrey connected with a RBI double to right center to score his teammate. Milhan capped off the two-run frame with a RBI single to give the Sand Sharks the 2-0 lead.

USCB and Warner exchanged one run each in the top of the third to make the contest 3-1, but in the top of the fifth and sixth innings, the Royals totaled six unanswered runs to take the 7-3 lead.

The Sand Shark offense totaled two runs in the home half of the sixth to make it a two-run game, 7-5. Wood had the clutch two RBI hit for the Sand Sharks, as he smacked a two-out single to plate Terrell and Humphrey.

The Sand Sharks had chances to plate runs in the seventh and eight innings, but they left three combined runners on base. 

Heading into the ninth inning, the Royals added on a big insurance run to make it a three-run game, 8-5.

Not giving up, USCB's offense tied the game at 8-all to force extra inning in the bottom of the ninth. Sellers doubled to center, and Russ followed to put runners at the corners with one out. Humphrey forced the bases loaded with a hit-by-pitch, and Milhan made it a two-run game off a sacrifice fly. Terrell made the contest 8-7 with an infield single. USCB was able to force the bases loaded again off a TK Kennedy walk, and Wood earned the game-tying RBI the hard with off a hit-by-pitch to tie the game, 8-8.

After leaving two Royals on base in the top of the 10th, USCB went quickly to work in the bottom of the 10th. Castro singled, and Sellers traded places with him off a fielder's choice. After a Russ walk to put two on base, USCB walked off thanks to a Royal throwing error, which plated Sellers from second base.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Micah Krieghauser - five innings, win, eight hits, two runs, one walk, six strikeouts

Matt Malatesta - four innings, save, two hits, one run, two walks, seven strikeouts

Castro - 3-for-5, double, two singles, one RBI, one run

Russ - 2-for-4, double, single, two RBIs, one run

Daniel Searles - 2-for-4, two singles, two RBIs

Sellers - 2-for-4,  solo home run, two runs

Milhan - 2-for-4, two singles, one run

Humphrey - 1-for-5, single, one RBI, one run

Marino Sorbara - 1-for-3, triple, one run

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

Similar to game one, USCB's offense started off red hot, as it started the contest with seven unanswered runs - one run in the first, second and fourth innings to go along with a four-run third frame.

Russ had the RBI single in the first, and Searles plated Terrell on an opposite-field single in the second frame. In the third frame, Russ scored Sellers on a double to left center, and Humphrey followed with a single to plate Russ. Humphrey later scored on a throwing error, and Searles capped off the four-run frame with another RBI single. Sellers finished off the seven unanswered run stretch with a solo homer in the fourth.

The Royals cut into the deficit with three combined runs in the fifth and six to make the contest, 7-3. 

Malatesta settled on the bump after allowing a run in the seventh, as he didn't allow a hit or run.

The Sand Sharks added an insurance run in the eighth when Castro collected a ringing, run-scoring double to make the game 8-3.

Malatesta slammed the door in the ninth to seal his first save of the year.

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 15-12 overall, 4-7 The Sun Conference 

RV Warner - 20-14 overall, 5-6 The Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Sand Sharks will look to sweep the Royals, as the three-game series between the two clubs will conclude on Saturday. First pitch is set for noon in Hardeeville.