HARDEEVILLE, Ga.-Playing their final non-conference game of the regular season, Savannah State University dropped a 13-4 affair to University of South Carolina Beaufort on Tuesday afternoon at the Richard Gray Sports Complex.

Both teams ended the game with ten hits but the Tigers made a trio of errors while leaving nine runners on base. USCB committed one error and left four runners on base.

Julian Grier and Hakem Smith were both hit by pitches and Johan Sandoval reached base on a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning. Sandoval stole second and advanced to third on an error while Grier scored. A sacrifice fly by Tyler Tucker was deep enough in right field to allow Sandoval to come home for a 2-0 lead.

The Sand Sharks responded with five runs in the bottom of the first for a 5-2 advantage.

The score remained the same until the top of the sixth when Savannah State sent two more runners across home plate.

Noah Rodriguez hit a single to right field, Gabe Breckenridge hit a single up the middle and Jason Ramos drew a walk to load the bases for Grier who hit a double down the right field line that brought home Rodriguez and Breckenridge to cut the USCB lead to 5-4.

The Sand Sharks pulled away with seven runs in the seventh inning and then scored another run in the eighth for a nine run margin.

Sandoval and Rodriguez finished the game with two hits apiece for SSU while Grier had two RBI. Sandoval also had two stolen bases.

Noah Lester was the losing pitcher. Lester pitched one third of an inning, giving up no hits, four runs and five walks. Others who saw time on the mound were Joshua Krutchik, Yan Cartaya, Giovante Tomlins and Adam Lafontaine.

Krutchik struck out three in 4.2 innings while Cartaya, Tomlins and Lafontaine all threw for one inning.

SSU (20-18, 17-10 SIAC) will close out their home schedule with a three-game series with LeMoyne-Owen on April 18-19. The teams will play a doubleheader on April 18 starting at 11 a.m. and will close out the series the following day at 11 a.m.

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