COLUMBIA, S.C. – The USC Beaufort baseball team used four home runs to defeat the Benedict College Tigers 12-9 in a non-conference baseball game on Wednesday.

Benedict falls to 5-3 on the season. USC Beaufort improves to 14-6.

The Sand Sharks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a three-run homer by Charlie McGinnis. Benedict would eventually tie the game at 7-7 with two runs in the seventh inning. Andrew McCoy tripled to score one run, then Armando Valentin singled to bring home McCoy.

USC Beaufort scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning for a 12-7 lead. Nick Graham had a three-run homer for the Sand Sharks. Benedict tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth as Valentin hit two-out RBI triple and White followed with a single to score Valentin. A groundout ended the rally.

Valentin led the Tigers offensively, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs. McCoy went 4-for-5 with one RBI and four runs scored. Reinaldo Santiago had a solor homer for the Tigers.

Benedict travels to Myrtle Beach this weekend for a pair of non-conference games at the Cal Ripken Baseball Complex. Benedict will take on the University of Valley Forge, an NCAA Division III school from Phoenixville, Pa., on Friday at 6 p.m. Benedict will face Lancaster Bible College, an NCAA Division III school from Lancaster, Pa., on Saturday at 8 p.m.