Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2010)  The Nova Southeastern University baseball team was swept in a doubleheader by #23 Delta State in action at the NSU Baseball Complex on Saturday afternoon. The 4-3 and 11-4 losses drop the Sharks record to 1-3 on the season while Delta State improves to 2-1-1 on the year.

The Statesmen from Cleveland, Miss. struck first in the opening game, scoring three runs off Sharks starter Ryan Whelan (Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) in the top of the third inning. Delta State scored once on a solo home run from shortstop Chris Escobar and twice on a RBI triple form first baseman Cade Hoggard.

The Sharks broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning, knotting the score at three on a two RBI triple from second baseman Eric McCans (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and on first baseman Dusty Maggs' (Jr., Sattelite Beach, Fla.) RBI single.

Delta State scored the winning run on a solo homer by third baseman Josh Gordon off NSU reliever Sean Albury (Jr., Nassau, Bahamas).

McCans, centerfielder Chris Hamper (So., Melbourne, Fla.) and third baseman Rhys Roberts (Sr., Parkland, Fla.) each had two hits in the game for Nova Southeastern.

Hoggard's RBI single in the top of the first inning gave the Statesmen an early 1-0 lead in the second game. After the Sharks tied the score on Roberts RBI double in the bottom of the first, Delta State took control of the game with a three run inning in the top of the second inning of NSU starter Nick Avila (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.).

Delta State added four more runs in the top of the third inning to lead 8-1. NSU mounted a rally in the bottom of the third, scoring twice before the rally was abruptly stopped when a runner was picked off to end the inning.

The Sharks scored another run in the fifth inning but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Delta State scored three more runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Maggs led the Sharks at the plate in the second game, going 3-3 with a run scored and a walk. Avila was tagged with the loss (0-1), allowing seven earned runs on six hits in two innings.

The Sharks host St. Thomas at 6 pm on Tuesday, February 9th at the NSU Baseball Complex.