HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort completed the season sweep over Savannah State with a 13–4 victory over the Tigers. USCB used two innings of at least five runs to break the game open.
USCB improves to 12–28 on the season, while Savannah State drops to 20–18.
The Sand Sharks were led by Maddox Robinson, who recorded three RBIs and two runs scored. Tyler Gundelfinger, Raeder McIntire, and Terry Dean each added two RBIs in the game. Andrew Walters, Noah Campbell, Robinson, and Gundelfinger all scored two runs.
Alex Simmons started the game, throwing four innings without allowing an earned run while striking out four. Carson Tillotson earned the win after a scoreless fifth inning, striking out the side. Asher Western, Jake Rice, Brayton Wilmes, and Roy Tayman all had scoreless outings in relief.
In the top of the first inning, both teams scored after multiple baserunners reached. The Tigers began by drawing two hit batters before a fielder's choice set up runners on the corners for a double steal. Savannah State scored its first run on a throwing error to take a 1–0 lead. After a runner advanced to third, a sacrifice fly brought in the Tigers' second run of the inning.
The Sand Sharks answered in the bottom of the first. After a walk and a pickoff by the Tigers' defense, USCB's patience at the plate paid off with four straight walks, allowing Davis to pick up an RBI as McDaniel scored. McIntire was then hit by a pitch, forcing in Andrew Walters to tie the game at 2–2. Maddox Robinson followed with an RBI single to short, scoring Jon Davis and Tyler Gundelfinger for a 4–2 Sand Sharks lead. USCB added one more run on a Kris Levensteins RBI single, capping a five-run first inning.
Savannah State threatened in the top of the second, opening with a single and a double before loading the bases. However, Alex Simmons and the Sand Sharks' defense worked out of the jam. After a pop-up for the first out, a fly ball to McDaniel turned into a double play as he threw out a runner at the plate, keeping the score 5–2.
The score remained 5–2 until the top of the sixth, when the Tigers struck again. Two straight singles and a walk loaded the bases before a two-RBI double cut the deficit to 5–4. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Campbell made a catch on a line drive, and Asher Western followed with a strikeout to escape the jam and keep USCB in front.
USCB broke the game open in the seventh inning. A walk and a single set up a Terry Dean single that drove in two runs as Levensteins and Robinson scored, extending the lead to 7–4. After Campbell stole second to put runners on second and third, McDaniel hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Dean for an 8–4 lead. Andrew Walters followed with an RBI triple, scoring Campbell, before Tyler Gundelfinger added an RBI single to make it 10–4. The Sand Sharks continued the rally as McIntire delivered an RBI single and later scored on an error, giving USCB a 12–4 lead and marking their second inning with at least five runs.
USC Beaufort added one more run in the eighth inning after Campbell led off with a single and later scored on a Gundelfinger RBI single to extend the lead to 13–4.
Roy Tayman sealed the win with a perfect ninth inning, striking out the final batter to complete the season sweep.
USCB returns to action on Friday, April 17, to open a three-game conference series against Lander University at Richard Gray Sports Complex.
