LAKE WALES, Fla. - Despite a five-hit day from Nikko Andre and a two home run performance from Leandy Castro, the USCB baseball team fell in the doubleheader to RV (receiving votes) Warner, 7-5 and 12-3, on Friday at Royals Field. 

INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Andre - 3-for-3, double, two singles, two RBIs

Kyran Russ, Brock Thibodeaux and TK Kennedy - one hit each

Javier Saenz - three innings, one hit, no runs, one strikeout

HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED

Warner scored two runs with one out in the bottom of the first to take the early lead, 2-0. 

After scoreless second and third innings, USCB cut the deficit in half, 2-1, when Andre poked a RBI single.

The Royals quickly answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth to take the three-run advantage, 4-1.

USCB and Warner tallied three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings, as it became a 7-4 contest after six complete. 

The Sand Sharks made it a tight contest when Clint Sellars collected a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it a one-run game, 7-5.

Saenz kept USCB in the game on the mound, as he twirled three innings of scoreless relief. However, USCB's offense sputtered in the two-run loss.

INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Castro - 2-for-4, two home runs, three RBIs, two runs

Andre - 2-for-3, double, single

Brian Meyer - 2-for-3, two singles, one run

Cam Mathis - 2.1 innings, five hits, one run, no walks, two strikeouts

HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED

USCB and Warner had traffic on the base paths in the first two innings, as both clubs combined for five hits during that stretch. However, neither team could open the scoring.

USCB eventually broke through in the third with a lone run - a solo blast from Castro.

The Royals answered in the home half of the third to knot the game at 1-all.

After a quick fourth, USCB retook the lead, 3-1, with a pair of runs in the fifth - this time a two-run homer from Castro. The blastoff was his fourth in 2022. 

Unfortunately, Warner posted a long bottom of the fifth, which resulted in seven runs off four hits. The seven-run frame gave the Royals the five-run advantage, 8-3. 

The Sand Shark offense couldn't find any momentum from the sixth inning-on, and Warner took advantage by adding on four more insurance runs to claim the 12-3 win. 

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 7-12 overall, 0-5 Sun Conference

RV Warner - 11-6 overall, 3-2 Sun Conference

WHAT'S NEXT?

USCB and Warner will conclude the three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 26 at noon in Lake Wales.