HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - To end the 2022 home slate, the USCB baseball team honored 12 of its graduating seniors on Saturday at Richard Gray Stadium, as the Sand Sharks fell to Thomas, 14-4 and 7-5.
The 12 graduating seniors that the USCB baseball team honored were Kaden Geelen, Leandy Castro, Tim Wood, Donavan Huneck, Nick Milhan, Clint Sellars, Kyran Russ, Brian Bromley, Javier Saenz, Cam Mathis, Tucker Perry and Jacob Judy.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Russ - 2-for-2, solo home run, single
Brock Thibodeaux - 1-for-3, single, two RBIs
Wesley Ambrose - 1-for-3, single, one run
Hunter McKown - 1-for-2, one run
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
After a quiet first inning for both teams, the second inning featured seven combined runs between USCB and Thomas. Unfortunately, the Night Hawks scored five of those seven runs to take the 5-2 after two complete. For USCB in the second, Russ clobbered a solo home run, and Thibodeaux poked a two-out, run-scoring hit.
The third inning had a lot of traffic on the base paths. USCB left a pair of runner as did Thomas.
Following the scoreless third, USCB and Thomas exchanged a pair of runs in the fourth. Sellars scored on a balk, and Thibodeaux plated McKown on a RBI ground out.
In a tight 7-4 game, the team clubs posted quick fifth and sixth innings to keep it a three-run game heading into the seventh.
The Night Hawks changed that narrative in the top of the seventh when it scored a lop-sided seven runs. TU batted around in the frame thanks to five hits, two errors and a walk.
Down by 10, USCB struggled to make it a single-digit deficit, as it went down 1-2-3 in the 14-4 loss.
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Castro - 3-for-5, double, two singles, one RBI
Sellars - 2-for-5, two singles, two RBIs, one run
Russ - 1-for-5, single, one RBI, one run
TK Kennedy - 1-for-4, one single, one RBI
Alexander Humphrey - 1-for-3, double, one run
Brian Meyer and Ambrose - one single and one run each
Bromley - four innings, one hit, no runs, two strikeouts
Brandon Martin - one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks, one strikeout
Tucker Perry - two innings, one run, one hit, one strikeout
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
After facing just four batters in the top of the first, USCB's offense rebounded in game two with a big first inning - four runs on five hits. Russ poked a RBI single, and Sellars drove in two on a single to left center. To cap off the scoring, Kennedy connected with a run-scoring hit to make it a 4-0 contest.
The Night Hawks quickly responded in the top of the second by tying the game. TU used five hits as well to force the game all square, 4-4.
Thomas carried that momentum in the third with a pair of unearned runs.
The Sand Sharks made it a tight contest in the home half of the fourth. Ambrose reached base on a throwing error, and Castro brought him home on a double to left center. The RBI extra-base knock made it a one-run game, 6-5.
Moving to the bottom of the seventh, USCB had a prime chance to tie or take the lead. USCB had a single from Julian Galassi, and McKown walked to put two Sand Sharks on base. However, neither Sand Shark would touch home.
With the scare, Thomas added a lone insurance run in the eighth to make it a two-run game again, 7-5.
The Sand Sharks made the game really interesting in the home half of the eighth, as it forced the bases loaded. Castro started the surge with one out, and Milhan and Meyer followed with walks. After a pitching change, TU worked out of the jam thanks to an infield fly and a flyout.
Down by two, USCB showed some fight in the ninth, as Nikko Andre reached on a throwing error, but he was the only Sand Shark to reach base in the 7-5 defeat.
TEAM RECORD UPDATES
USCB - 22-23 overall, 9-12 Sun Conference
Thomas - 18-26 overall, 2-16 Sun Conference
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Sand Sharks will travel to Ave Maria from April 22-23 for a crucial Sun Conference set in Ave Maria, Fla. First pitch is set for noon on Friday, April 22.
