AVE MARIA, Fla. - To commence a pivotal Sun Conference series on Friday, the USCB baseball team used three home runs (four on the day), including a grand slam from Clint Sellars, to salvage a split with Ave Maria, 9-8 and 8-4, to open the road series. Sellars had a strong day at the plate, as he connected with two home runs to go along with six RBIs.
INSIDE THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Sellars - 2-for-5, home run, single, two RBIs, one run
Kyran Russ - 2-for-4, double, single, two RBIs
Nick Milhan - 2-for-5, two singles, one RBI, one run
Brian Meyer - 1-for-5, single, two runs
Hunter McKown and Nikko Andre - one single, one run each
Brandon Blume - five innings, nine hits, four earned runs, two walks, eight strikeouts
Cam Mathis - 2.1 innings, two hits, one run, no walks, two strikeouts
Tucker Perry - 0.1 innings, no runs, no hits, no walks, one strikeout
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
USCB nearly started the contest off red hot, as it left two runners on base in the first inning.
After a scoreless second, USCB took advantage in the third inning with three hits. Andre started the rally with a single, and after two quick outs, he moved into scoring position. Meyer followed suit with a single to put runners at the corners, and he put pressure on AMU by putting two Sand Sharks in scoring position thanks to a stolen base. Russ made it hurt with a bases-clearing, two RBI double to left center to give USCB the lead.
The middle innings - fourth through sixth - favored the Gyrenes, as they outscored the Sand Sharks by six, 8-2.
After AMU tacked on a big run in the bottom of the eight, the Sand Shark offense erupted for four runs in the eighth to make it a one-run contest, 9-8. Sellars started the frame with a solo blast, while Milhan poked a RBI single to pull within three, 9-6. The Gyrenes committed a key error, which allowed two Sand Sharks to score because of the errant play.
With three outs left in the contest, Jake Tanner made it interesting with two outs. The freshman infielder connected with a double. However, he was left stranded at second in the one-run loss, 9-8.
INSIDE THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Sellars - 1-for-3, third career grand slam, four RBIs, one run
Milhan - 2-for-4, home run, single, one RBI, two runs
Meyer - 2-for-5, home run, single, one RBI, one run
Leandy Castro - 2-for-5, double, single, one RBI, one run
Russ - 2-for-5, two singles, two runs
Wesley Ambrose and Brevon Harper - one single each
Brian Bromley - 1.1 innings, four hits, one run, one walk
Donavan Huneck - 2.1 innings, three hits, two earned runs, one strikeout
Tucker Dove - 4.1 innings, one hit, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts
Perry - one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks, three strikeouts
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
The two ball clubs exchanged solo runs in the first. Castro collected the RBI double for the Sand Sharks, while Jose Gonzalez tallied the sac fly for Ave Maria.
After both teams combined for five runners left on base in the second, the Sand Sharks utilized a big blast in the third to take the four-run lead. Sellars came up big for USCB, as he collected his third career grand slam and second this year. With the long blast, USCB held the 5-1 lead.
Ave Maria started to chip away at the deficit, as it scored two in the third to make it a two-run game - 5-3.
The Sand Sharks used more of the long ball in the fifth and sixth innings when Milhan and Meyer each connected with solo homers to add insurance. With Meyer's homer in the sixth, USCB took the lead, 7-3.
The seventh and eighth innings flew by for both ball clubs, but in the ninth, USCB tacked on another insurance run when Brock Thibodeaux scored off Tanner's fielder's choice.
Perry came in to close out the game, and he did so in dominating fashion - by striking out the side. With his dominating outing (second appearance of the day), he secured the split for USCB in the 8-3 win.
TEAM RECORD UPDATES
USCB - 23-24 overall, 10-12 Sun Conference
Ave Maria - 27-21-1 overall, 8-12 Sun Conference
WHAT'S NEXT?
The rubber match between USCB and Ave Maria is set for April 23 at noon in Ave Maria, Fla.
