BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team faced the Bridgeport Purple Knights on Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game. The Sand Sharks held a 5-4 lead into the fifth inning before a six-run fifth by the Purple Knights pushed them in front. Bridgeport went on to close out a 10-8 win over the Sand Sharks.
USCB is now 4-13 on the season following the game.
Kris Levensteins had a team-high three RBIs with one hit and a run scored on Tuesday. Andrew Walters and Raeder McIntire each recorded a team-high two hits, while Walters and Nicholas Barcelo each scored two runs.
Garrett Helm and Asher Western each had scoreless outings for the Sand Sharks pitching staff.
The Purple Knights were first on the board after a leadoff walk and stolen base set up a runner in scoring position before an error allowed the run to cross the plate for an early 1-0 lead.
USCB answered in the second inning, taking its first lead of the game. Barcelo reached base to start the inning, followed by a Walters single. A Levensteins sacrifice fly and a Purple Knights error gave the Sand Sharks a 2-1 lead after two innings.
The Purple Knights regained the lead using a bases-loaded walk before an RBI single pushed across two runs for a 3-2 visitors advantage.
USC Beaufort tied the game in the home half of the third inning when Noah Campbell lined out to center field for a sacrifice fly that scored McIntire, making it a 3-3 game through three innings.
In a back-and-forth contest, Bridgeport struck again in the fourth inning with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to score its fourth run and take a 4-3 lead.
Jon Davis started the inning by reaching base before stealing second, putting himself in scoring position. He came across the plate on a Levensteins RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Levensteins later scored on a McIntire RBI single to give USCB a 5-4 advantage.
The fifth inning for the Purple Knights was their big inning. Bridgeport opened the inning with back-to-back extra-base hits — a double followed by an RBI triple to tie the game at 5-5. A single then gave Bridgeport a 6-5 lead. Three more runs scored on back-to-back RBI singles as the Purple Knights built a 10-5 lead through five innings.
Looking for a rally, USCB scored on a Colby Reynolds RBI single as Walters crossed the plate. The Sand Sharks later loaded the bases, but Bridgeport escaped further damage. USCB added another run in the seventh inning when Levensteins grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Noah Campbell to score as the Sand Sharks trailed 10-7.
The Sand Sharks scored their final run in the ninth while trying to tie the game. USCB put the first two runners on base before a wild pitch scored Walters, cutting the deficit to 10-8. However, Bridgeport again escaped further damage and secured the 10-8 win.
USCB will be on the road this weekend for conference play against Flagler College, beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m.
