St. Augustine, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2010)  The Nova Southeastern University baseball team bounced back after falling 3-1 in the first game to win game two 4-2 and split a doubleheader at Flagler College in play on Saturday afternoon. The split brings the Sharks record to 3-4 on the season while Flagler stands at 3-3.

The Sharks fell behind in the third inning of the first game after a walk, a stolen base and a RBI double off starting pitcher Chris Hamper (So., Melbourne, Fla.).

Nova Southeastern knotted the score at one apiece on a RBI single by sophomore outfielder Jonathan Escarza (Miami, Fla.) in the top of the fifth inning.

The game would remain scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning when Flagler scored two runs on a one out double to left-centerfield off reliever Isaac Hicks (Jr., Ft. Myers, Fla.).

Hamper was tagged for the loss despite allowing only three hits and three runs in seven and one-thirds innings pitched. He struck out seven and walked three. Flagler reliever Adam Jaudon picked up the win by pitching two hitless innings of relief. Saints starters Jonathan Armold threw seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven.

Escarza finished 1-3 with a RBI while freshman outfielder Alex Marrero (Miami, Fla.) was 1-4 with a run scored.

NSU turned the tables on Flagler in the second game, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning to grab the lead. The big hit of the inning was a two-RBI single by junior first baseman Dusty Maggs (Satellite Beach, Fla.).

The Sharks added a run on a sacrifice fly from senior second baseman Eric McCans (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) in the top of the third inning.

Flagler scored an unearned run in the bottom half of the third to make it a 3-1 game. A RBI single by the Saints' Jose Rohena brought Flagler to within one run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Nova Southeastern added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a two out double by left fielder Nikko Echevarria (So., Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia).

Junior starting pitcher Ryan Whelan (Boca Raton, Fla.) was spectacular on the mound for NSU, allowing just one unearned run on three hits in seven innings to earn the win. He struck out seven batters and walked just one. Sophomore Sean Tighe (Hobe Sound, Fla.) was credited with his first save in an NSU uniform by pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts.

Echevarria led the Sharks at the plate, going 3-5 with two runs scored and a RBI. Maggs had two hits and two RBI.

The Sharks will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla. to play the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish on Tuesday, February 16th at 6 p.m.