Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Mar. 20, 2010) The Nova Southeastern University baseball team swept #20 Franklin Pierce by the scores of 6-1 and 5-3 in action at the NSU Baseball Complex on Saturday afternoon. The wins improve the Sharks record to 14-14 on the season while Franklin Pierce falls to 9-5.
"You don't have the opportunity to win five games in a week often," said NSU head coach Michael Mominey. "I'm excited that we took advantage of the opportunity, especially after being on the road for so long. We played some quality opponents, four of the five games were against ranked teams."
After allowing a run in the top of the second inning, Sharks starting pitcher Nick Avila (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) shut down the Ravens for the rest of the game, allowing just four hits and one run in the complete game effort. Avila struck out eight and didn't walk a batter to earn his third win of the season.
Third baseman Rhys Roberts (Sr., Parkland, Fla.) and first baseman Dusty Maggs (Jr., Satellite Beach, Fla.) led NSU at the plate in the first game, as each batter registered two hits and a home run. Left fielder Nikko Echevarria (So., Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia) also had two hits for the Sharks.
Roberts jump started a Sharks rally in the second game, blasting a two-run shot in the bottom of the third inning to put NSU ahead, 3-2. Maggs followed with a lead-off homer in the bottom of the fourth and senior catcher Matt Fisher (Sunrise, Fla.) hit a RBI double to complete the inning and put NSU ahead 5-2.
Sophomore pitcher Chris Hamper (Melbourne, Fla.) earned the win, pitching four innings and allowing two runs. Junior Isaac Hicks (Ft. Myers, Fla.), sophomore Sean Tighe (Hobe Sound, Fla.) and junior closer Sean Albury (Nassau, Bahamas) combined to allow just one unearned run in the final three innings. Albury was credited with his fifth save of the season.
Mominey said, "It was a great week; pitching, hitting and fielding." "This week was the best consistency we've seen all season. We've found ourselves. Everyone is playing within their abilities and not trying to do too much." The Sharks remain at home to host Southern New Hampshire at 6 pm on Monday, March 22nd at the NSU Baseball Complex.
"We've got to keep it going," said Mominey. "We're home for the next six games, three of which are conference. This is our opportunity to get back into the race."
