BLUFFTON, S.C. - First-year USCB softball head coach Codee Yeske unveiled the 2022 slate on Wednesday, Nov. 24, and the season begins on Feb. 1 at home versus NCAA Division II member Anderson.
"We're very excited about the 2022 season. We feel that we've compiled a competitive schedule featuring some NAIA teams and some NCAA DII opponents, a few of which we will be joining in the Peach Belt Conference next year," said Yeske. "The team has been working extremely hard this fall, and we're looking forward to getting out and competing this upcoming spring."
The season commences on Tuesday, Feb. 1, when USCB hosts Anderson at Richard Gray Stadium. It will be the first-ever matchup between the Sand Sharks and Trojans.
Four days later, USCB will host a familiar opponent in Montreat. The doubleheader between the two clubs is set for noon in Hardeeville. USCB is a perfect 14-0 against the Cavaliers with all 14 games being played at the friendly confines of Richard Gray. USCB has outscored Montreat by 97 runs all-time (114-17).
The Sand Sharks will then get a taste of their future conference - Peach Belt Conference (NCAA DII) - when they travel to Greenwood, S.C. for the two-day Bearcat Round Robin tournament. The outing is hosted by Lander and will be held from Feb. 19-20. USCB will play four games in total versus Lander and Chowan - two games each.
After a week of rest, USCB will make the short trek to Savannah, Ga. to face off with Savannah State on Feb. 26. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The two teams have met five times on the diamond, and USCB leads the all-time series, 4-1.
In one of the biggest highlights of the year, USCB will travel to Kissimmee, Fla. to take part in The Spring Games. The Sand Sharks will compete against several NAIA schools from March 6-10. Teams and start times for the tournament have not been announced.
On March 11, the Sand Sharks will begin Sun Conference action at Warner. New for the 2022 season will be three-game series in league games. USCB and Warner begin the series with two games at 4 and 6 p.m. in Lake Wales, Fla., and to end the series, the two ball clubs will start on March 12 at noon.
Continuing its hectic month of March, USCB will travel to Lawrenceville, Ga. to take on Georgia Gwinnett on March 16.
The Sand Sharks will then play Florida Memorial from March 18-19 at home. The Lions will be in their first year of existence, as FMU announced the addition of the softball program back in 2020.
In its first mid-week conference series, the Sand Sharks will entertain 2021 Sun Conference Tournament victors - Coastal Georgia - from March 22-23. Last year the Mariners got the best of the Sand Sharks in the season series by winning three of four games. Two of the losses, though, were decided by one run.
To end March, the Sand Sharks will play their second road league series of the year by traveling down to Babson Park, Fla. to take on Webber International from March 25-26. The Warriors are coming off one of their best seasons last year, where they were tabbed Sun Conference Tournament runner-ups, went 15-9 in league games and collected 19 wins at home.
Opening the month of April will be a three-game set versus St. Thomas (April 1-2). The series begins with a doubleheader on April 1 at 3 and 5 p.m. The series finale is slated for April 2 at noon. USCB has dominated STU in all-time matchups (18-9), but in the last eight head-to-head contests, they have split the series, 4-4.
After playing a doubleheader non-conference bout with Middle Georgia State on April 5, USCB welcomes Ave Maria to the Lowcountry on April 8-9. Similar to STU, USCB has dominated the Gyrenes all-time, 21-9. In the last five head-to-head, the Sand Sharks have won four of the matches and outscored the Gyrenes by 18 runs, 30-12.
USCB and GGC will end the season series with the Grizzlies traveling to Richard Gray Stadium on April 13 for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
The Sand Sharks will play their final six road games of 2022 from April 15-23 by playing Southeastern and Thomas on the road. USCB and SEU will square off from April 15-16 in Lakeland, while the Sand Sharks and Night Hawks face off from April 22-23 in Thomasville, Ga.
To end the 2022 regular season, USCB will host Senior Day on April 29-30 by hosting Keiser. This will be the first time since 2019 that the Seahawks have traveled to Richard Gray. USCB currently holds a 7-2 home all-time record against Keiser.
The Sun Conference Tournament will welcome the top six teams into the tournament, as it will be played from May 5-7. The location of the postseason tournament has yet to be announced.
For the full 2022 schedule, click HERE.
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