HARDEEVILLEĀ -- An extra-inning thriller ended with the Sand Sharks suffering a tough 4-3 loss to visiting Columbus State Saturday afternoon at Richard Gray Sports Complex. Warrick Wilmot's 10th-inning leadoff home run off reliever Ian Barnes was the decisive blow against Beaufort. USCB put the go-ahead run on base in the bottom half of the 10th, but a flyout to center ended the game.
Neither team mustered much offense in the early innings until the Cougars plated a single run in the third. USCB answered right back in the bottom half of the inning as Jon Davis ripped a two-run double to left to put the Sand Sharks in front. On the next play, Noah Campbell laid down a perfectly executed bunt and reached first, then advanced on the throw to second, which allowed Davis to walk home, putting Beaufort up 3-1.
Luke Miller was a thorn in the side of USCB as the Cougars' left fielder went 4-for-5 at the plate, including a solo home run in the fifth and the game-tying RBI single to right in the sixth.
Alex Simmons came just one out shy of a quality start, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing just three runs on seven hits. The righty struck out two batters and walked none. Andrew Shanks and Cole Thomas worked 2.2 innings of scoreless relief in the later innings before Barnes worked a perfect ninth, throwing only four pitches.
USCB and Columbus State wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. scheduled first pitch.
