VALDOSTA, Ga. (Feb. 21, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern University baseball team lost an 8-7 game at Billy Grant Field in play on Sunday afternoon. The loss drops the Sharks to 5-7 on the season while Valdosta State improves to 9-3.

NSU scored one run in the top of the first inning when shortstop Luis Penate (Jr., Miami, Fla.) led off the game with a double and scored on a RBI single by second baseman Eric McCans (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.).

Valdosta State took advantage of two walks to lead off the bottom of the second and scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. The Sharks tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third inning, scoring two runs on three Blazer errors.

A Brandon Decker solo home run re-captured the lead for VSU before the Sharks scored twice on hit by pitch, a walk and an error in the top half of the fourth inning to lead 5-4.

The Blazers tied the game at five apiece in the bottom of the fourth and took the lead on a two run homer by Clayton Cain. Valdosta State added a run in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Ryan Danbury.

The Sharks closed to within a run in the top of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Rhys Roberts (Sr., Parkland, Fla.) and a smart base running play by first baseman Dusty Maggs (Jr., Satellite Beach, Fla.).

Sean Koecheler (Baton Rouge, La.) took the loss for NSU, allowing seven runs in five innings pitched. Penate led the Sharks at the plate, going 1-4 with a double and two runs scored.

NSU returns home to host Mercyhurst on Thursday, February 25th at 6 p.m.