Valdosta, Ga. (Feb. 19, 2010)  Despite leading 2-0, the Nova Southeastern University baseball team lost 8-3 to Valdosta State at Billy Grant Field on Friday evening. The loss drops the Sharks to 4-5 on the season while the Blazers improve to 7-2.

A triple by freshman designated hitter Alex Marrero (Miami, Fla.) sparked a two run inning for the Sharks in the top of the third inning. Junior catcher Haven FitzSimmonds (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and senior second baseman Eric McCans (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) had RBI's in the inning for NSU.

Valdosta State took advantage of two NSU errors and had three hits off Sharks starter Ryan Whelan (Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) to tie the game at two apiece in the bottom half of the inning.

The Blazers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on back-to-back home runs from right fielder Brandon Decker and designated hitter Clayton Cain.

VSU scored two insurance runs on two hits in the seventh inning and added a run in the eighth on an error and a sacrifice fly.

The Sharks scored a run on a RBI double from FitzSimmonds in the top of the ninth inning.

Whelan took the loss for NSU, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings. Brett Kennedy earned the win for VSU, pitching a complete game while limiting the Sharks to three runs on seven hits.

Junior shortstop Luis Penate (Miami, Fla.) led the Sharks at the plate, going 2-4 with a double and single. Marrero and centerfielder Chris Hamper (Jr., Melbourne, Fla.) each went 1-3 with a run scored while FitzSimmonds contributed with two RBI.

NSU continues their series at Valdosta State, playing a doubleheader tomorrow at 1 p.m.