BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team opened its 2026 season Tuesday night with a thrilling 7–6 comeback victory over Edward Waters, scoring three runs in the eighth inning to erase a late deficit, before throwing out the tying run at the plate.
The Sand Sharks improve to 1–0 on the season with the win, while Edward Waters falls to 3–1.
USCB had two players record multi-hit performances, as Cooper McDaniel and Nicholas Barcelo each collected two hits. Barcelo led the team with two RBIs, including the game-winning two-run single to right field in the eighth inning. Noah Campbell scored two runs in the victory.
Joe Turner earned his first win of the season on the mound, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out two Tigers hitters.
Edward Waters struck first in the opening inning, using back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third before an RBI groundout plated the game's first run, giving the Tigers a 1–0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, Edward Waters added to its lead in the third. A single followed by a stolen base set up an RBI single to left field that scored Prieto, extending the advantage to 2–0. It was the Sand Sharks defense keeping the game 2-0 after a pickoff from Terry Dean throwing to Kris Levensteins. Then in the third inning McDaniel threw out a runner at the plate.
The Sand Sharks responded in the bottom of the fourth inning. After the first two batters reached base, a bunt single by Barcelo brought Campbell home on the throw. Moments later, McDaniel scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2–2. USCB continued the rally when Terry Dean lifted an RBI sacrifice fly, giving the Sand Sharks their first lead at 3–2.
Edward Waters answered in the fifth inning, using two singles and a stolen base to set up an RBI sacrifice fly that tied the game at 3–3.
The game remained even until the seventh inning, when the Tigers capitalized on multiple stolen bases and a defensive error to score three runs, taking a 6–3 lead.
USCB cut into the deficit in the bottom of the seventh. After a one-out walk and a wild pitch moved a runner into scoring position, Tyler Gundelfinger delivered an RBI single up the middle to make it 6–4 heading into the eighth.
Edward Waters threatened in the top of the eighth by placing a runner on third, but Turner worked out of the jam to keep the deficit at two. The Sand Sharks then delivered the decisive rally in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff single and a walk set the stage for McDaniel's RBI single, pulling USCB within one. With the bases loaded, Barcelo singled to right-center field, scoring Campbell and Jon Davis to give the Sand Sharks a 7–6 lead.
Edward Waters put the tying run in scoring position with a one-out double in the ninth inning, but Tanner Wagnon threw out the potential tying run at the plate on a single to right field, sealing the comeback victory.
The Sand Sharks are home for a three-game series beginning Friday, February 6, at 6:00 p.m. against Wheeling University at Richard Gray Sports Complex.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
