Baseball opens season with shutout win
The USCB baseball team used a dominant pitching performance and a four-run fifth inning to spoil Mid-American Christian’s program debut with a 6-0 win over the visiting Mustangs on Saturday at Richard Gray Sports Complex in Hardeeville.
Seven different pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout for the Sand Sharks in their season opener. Starter Eamonn Collins struck out four and retired all six batters he faced, and Matt Malatesta and Harrison Bell each added two clean innings in relief.
The Mustangs didn’t manage a hit until the seventh, but MACU starter Caleb Whitley held the Sand Sharks at bay until the home team broke out in a four-run fifth.
Leandy Castro went 3-for-4 with a double and scored a run, and Keith Olmo and Nick Milhan each added two hits and scored a run for the Sand Sharks.
Softball sweeps on opening day
USCB’s nationally-ranked softball team started its season on a high note Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Montreat College at Hardeeville’s Richard Gray Sports Complex.
The Sand Sharks, ranked 20th in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll, beat the Cavaliers 5-2 in the opener and posted a 6-0 shutout in the finale.
Catcher Emily Martin had a monster day at the plate for USCB, beginning with a 3-for-3 performance in game 1. Martin had three doubles and an RBI in the opener, and she added an RBI single in the second game. Jodi Hatcher also swung a hot bat, going 2-for-3 in each game with an RBI double in the opener.
Maria Molloseau threw five scoreless innings to earn the win in the first game, striking out four and allowing two hits and three walks.
Sloan Ducey and Caitlin Toole combined on the shutout in game 2, as Ducey allowed three hits and struck out two over four frames for the win and Toole allowed just two walks in three innings to earn the save.
