ST. AUGUSTINE -- Jon Davis gave the Sand Sharks an early lead in the third inning, and Alex Simmons pitched into the seventh for the second straight start, but USCB surrendered six runs in the bottom of the seventh as Flagler took game one of the series, 6-1, Thursday evening at Drysdale Field.
The teams traded zeroes through the first two innings before Davis put Beaufort on the board with an RBI double in the third. He laced a 1-2 pitch into the left field corner, scoring Terry Dean to make it 1-0. Simmons (1-7) followed with a shutdown inning and kept the Saints off the board through the middle frames. The right-hander tossed perfect fourth and fifth innings, then worked around a two-out single in the sixth.
USCB threatened in the top of the seventh when Joe Turner sent a 3-1 pitch into right for a one-out triple, but a groundout and a strikeout ended the scoring chance. Flagler responded by opening the bottom of the inning with back-to-back walks and loaded the bases on a fielder's choice. The Saints tied it up with a hit-by-pitch, took the lead with a single to right, and added four more runs before the inning was over.
The Sand Sharks put runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings but hit into double plays each time, including the game-ending play.
The series continues Friday with a 5 p.m. first pitch.
