LAURINBURG, N.C. - In a contest that featured 28 combined runs and 34 total hits, the USCB baseball team fell in the offensive slugfest, 15-13, to RV (receiving votes) St. Andrews on Tuesday at Clark Field.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jake Tanner - 2-for-5, three-run homer, single, three RBIs, two runs
Wesley Ambrose - 3-for-4, three singles, three RBIs, one run
Robbie Brown - 2-for-6, double, single, three RBIs, two singles
Leandy Castro - 2-for-5, double, single
Brock Thibodeaux - 2-for-5, two singles, one RBI, one run
Brevon Harper - 2-for-4, two singles, two RBIs
Nick Milhan 1-for-3, single, one RBI, two runs
Brian Meyer - three runs
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first inning featured a lot of fireworks for the Sand Sharks. Castro started the frame with a ringing double to left center, and Milhan put runners at the corners thanks to a single to center. After an out at the plate, Brown singled to left to put ducks on the pond. Ambrose went station to station, as he connected with a single to center to make it a 1-0 game. Following suit, Harper stroked a two RBI double, which pushed the lead to three.
SAU didn't cave, despite the early runs. The Knights rattled off three unanswered runs in the first and second innings to tie the game at 3-all.
In the top of the third, the Sand Sharks retook the lead, as they took advantage of an error. Meyer reached base on an error, and he moved to third after a stolen base and a wild pitch. With one out, Ambrose striped a sac fly to center, which allowed Meyer to score easily and gave USCB the one-run lead - 4-3.
The pesky Knights wouldn't give in, as they tied the game back up again in the bottom of the third. Chance Blum earned the RBI hit for SAU to make it 4-4.
SAU rattled off three unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings, which catapulted the Knights ahead - 7-4.
The sixth inning featured seven combined runs for both clubs. USCB scored four in its inning, while SAU plated three. Brown collected three of USCB's runs in the frame with a bases-clearing double, and Ambrose followed with a RBI single. After the Knights scored three in the sixth, St. Andrews held the lead, 10-8.
USCB and St. Andrews continued to battle for the next two innings, as there was a combined 10 runs - five apiece - in the seventh and eighth innings. USCB scored one in the seventh (Milhan sac fly) and four in the eighth (Thibodeaux RBI single and Tanner three-run homer). Despite the fireworks, the Knights continued to regain the lead, as they held a narrow two-run lead, 15-13, after eight complete.
Facing the fourth Knight pitcher of the game, USCB struggled to mount another rally in the ninth, as the SAU squad worked a 1-2-3 inning to end its four-game skid.
TEAM RECORD UPDATES
USCB - 21-21 overall
RV St. Andrews - 29-12 overall
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Sand Sharks will conclude their home schedule this weekend, which will also serve as Senior Day on Saturday. USCB will host Thomas for a three-game series beginning with a nine-inning affair on April 15 at 4 p.m.
USCB will honor its 13 seniors on Saturday, April 16 in between games. The first game of the doubleheader is slated for noon at Richard Gray Stadium.
