Lake Worth, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2010)  The Nova Southeastern University baseball team rallied to score six runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Palm Beach Atlantic 12-7 on Tuesday evening. The win improves the Sharks record to 4-4 on the season while Palm Beach Atlantic falls to 0-5.

The Sharks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring a run on a two out RBI single from first baseman Dusty Maggs (Satellite, Beach, Fla.).

NSU starter Sean Koecheler (Baton Rouge, La.) was sharp early on for the Sharks, setting down the first 10 Palm Beach Atlantic batters of the evening. Sailfish second baseman Vasillios Mila had a slow chopper to third base for the first PBA on the evening with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

NSU added a run in the top of the fourth when junior shortstop Luis Penate (Miami, Fla.) singled, advanced to second, stole third base and scored on a wild pitch from Sailfish starter Chad Volbert.

Junior Anthony Nalepa (Miami, Fla.) replaced Koecheler in the top of the fifth inning and allowed the Sailfish to tie the game at two apiece. The Sailfish scored on three hits and two walks in the inning. NSU avoided any further damage when Nalepa induced an inning ending double play ball to second baseman Eric McCans (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.).

The Sharks took the lead right back in the top of the sixth. Penate doubled to shallow-centerfield with one out and was hit in by junior right fielder Brayan Valencia (Pembroke Pines, Fla.).

A two-out rally in the top of the seventh inning padded the Sharks lead, as Maggs hit a two-RBI double and Valencia hit a RBI single to make it a 6-3 game.

Palm Beach Atlantic scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning. Two runs scored on a homer from third baseman Luis Meija off of NSU reliever Torey Ekey (Merritt Island, Fla.). The third run was scored on a Sharks error with two outs.

The Sailfish took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring twice on three hits and a NSU error.

The Sharks rallied in the top of the ninth, scoring six runs on five hits and a Palm Beach Atlantic error. Pinch hitter Alan Avila (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) drew a game tying bases loaded walk that was followed with a RBI single by pinch hitter Matt Fisher (Sr., Sunrise, Fla.) and a bases clearing triple by sophomore centerfielder Chris Hamper (Melbourne, Fla.). Another single by centerfielder Matt Seese (Ocala, Fla.) accounted for the final Sharks run.

Junior reliever Isaac Hicks (Ft. Myers, Fla.) was credited with the victory, allowing three runs, one earned in an inning pitched. Sean Tighe (So., Hobe Sound, Fla.) pitched the final inning for NSU to secure the victory.

NSU travels to Valdosta, Ga. to take on the Valdosta State Blazers in a four game series this weekend, beginning Friday, Feb. 19th at 6 p.m.