Melbourne, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2010)  The Nova Southeastern University baseball team rallied to win in extra innings in the second game at Florida Tech on Sunday afternoon to split a Sunshine State Conference doubleheader. After falling 17-2 in the first game, NSU won 9-7 in the second game and now stands at 7-9 overall and 1-2 in SSC play. No. 20 Florida Tech falls to 13-2 and 2-1 in SSC play.

The Sharks dropped the first game of the doubleheader 17-2. The game was picked up in the bottom of the fifth inning after it was halted due to weather conditions on Saturday afternoon. When the game was stopped on Saturday, Florida Tech led 11-2.

The Panthers scored 17 runs on just eight hits. They were aided by 16 walks and four hit by pitches. NSU was led by left fielder Jonathan Escarza (So., Miami, Fla.), who went 2-4 at the plate.

The Sharks began the second game with a 1-0 lead when junior shortstop Luis Penate (Miami, Fla.) led the game off with a solo homerun.

Florida Tech gained the lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three times on two hits batters, two walks and a hit. The Panthers extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs on three walks, one hit and a NSU error.

NSU began their comeback in the fourth inning, scoring two runs on a RBI single by centerfielder Sharad Johnson (Jr., Nassau, Bahamas) and three runs on a homer by right fielder Brayan Valencia (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to make it a 7-6 game.

Freshman left fielder Alex Marrero (Miami, Fla.) hit a lead-off home run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game.

The Sharks took the lead in the top of the eighth inning, scoring twice on three hits. Valencia singled home freshman second baseman Blake Boyd (Jupiter, Fla.) before junior catcher Michael Hartley (Davie, Fla.) singled in Johnson to make it a 9-7 game.

After the first two Panther batters reached base in the bottom of the eighth inning the Sharks went to sophomore reliever Sean Tighe (Hobe Sound, Fla.) to shut down the rally. Tighe came through for NSU, pitching the three outs to earn his second save of the season.

The game was won on a final play where the Florida Tech batter hit the ball up the middle. Boyd ranged to his right and dove to stop the ball, flipped it to Penate, who turned and gunned down the Florida Tech runner at home plate.

Junior reliever Sean Albury (Nassau, Bahamas) was credited with the win, pitching one and two-thirds scoreless innings while striking out four.

Valencia led NSU at the plate, going 2-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Sophomore designated hitter Nikko Echevarria (Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia) also had two hits in the game for NSU.

The Sharks return home to host College of Saint Rose at 6 pm on Tuesday, March 2nd at the NSU Baseball Complex.