ST. AUGUSTINE -- In a game dominated by stellar pitching as well as the series as whole, the USCB baseball team eked out a 1-0 win over Flagler on Saturday, clinching a win in the series behind a masterful performance from starter Ian Barnes.
Barnes was brilliant on the mound, tossing 7.2 scoreless innings while scattering six hits and striking out one. The right-hander kept the Saints off balance all afternoon, navigating through traffic with poise and efficiency. PJ Luebbers sealed the deal in the ninth, coming out of the bullpen to earn the save with a clean frame that included two punchouts and just one hit allowed.
The lone run of the game came in the fifth inning, and it didn't require a hit to bring it home. Cooper McDaniel led off the inning with a triple and came around to score on a passed ball—an unearned run that would prove to be the difference.
Offensively, the Sand Sharks managed only three hits but made them count in a game where runs were at a premium.
With postseason hopes hanging in the balance, Beaufort now turns its attention to the final series of the regular season with rival USC Aiken, but first the Sand Sharks wrap up the non-conference schedule against Savannah State on Tuesday with a 3 p.m. scheduled first pitch.Â
