Miami Shores, Fla. (Apr. 10, 2010) - Nova Southeastern University baseball fell 8-7 in the first game of a doubleheader at Barry on Saturday, but the Sharks bounced back with a late-game surge to win Game Two 7-6. NSU is now 25-17 on the season and 8-7 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Buccaneers moved to 25-12 overall and 8-7 in the SSC.
In Game One, the Sharks looked to come back from a five-run deficit. With Barry up 5-0 heading into the top of the fourth, Nikko Echevarria (So., Abqaia, KSA) scored the Sharks' first run of the game on a muffed throw. Barry regained a five-run advantage in the bottom half of the fourth with a Yas Gutierrez home run to left field.
After a scoreless fifth-inning, NSU put up a pair of runs in the sixth on back-to-back bases loaded walks. Jonathan Escarza's (So., Miami, Fla.) walk brought in Rhys Roberts (Sr., Parkland, Fla.), while Haven FitzSimmonds' (Jr., Loxahatchee, Fla.) walk allowed Eric McCans (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to score.
NSU ultimately tied the game at 6-6 with a three-run seventh inning. All of the Sharks' three runs came with two outs. Roberts had an RBI double to center field that brought in Echevarria. McCans drove in Roberts with a single, while an Escarza hit to right center allowed McCans to score the game-tying run.
Barry took a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, but the Sharks answered in the top of the eighth with Chris Hamper (So., Melbourne, Fla.) crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly by Echevarria that knotted the game up at 7-7. However, the Buccaneers got the eventual game-winning run in the bottom half of the inning with Matt Petty hitting a home run to left field.
Roberts went 3-for-4 one RBI and two runs scored, while McCans was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Six different Buccaneers each had two hits.
Tyler King picked up the win after pitching the final two innings. He allowed one run off three hits in the nine batters he faced. Sean Tighe was credited with the loss. He struck out three, but allowed one run off one hit in one inning of work.
In Game Two, the Sharks rallied with two-run home runs in both the fifth and seventh innings to propel them to a one-run win over the Buccaneers. Trailing 6-3 heading into the fifth, McCans sent a two-run blast to left center that pulled NSU to within one. Then with two outs in the seventh, FitzSimmonds hit his sixth home run of the season that put NSU on top 7-6.
Game Two started out close with both teams each scoring a run in the first and second innings. For the Sharks, Luis Penate (Jr., Miami, Fla.) had a lead-off homer to left field to begin the game. Then Echevarria sent an RBI single to center field in the second.
Meanwhile, Barry had an RBI double in the first and an RBI single in the second. The Buccaneers took a four-run advantage in the third. Ryan Garcia hit a three-run blast to left center, while a bases-loaded walked allowed Chris Leon to score and put Barry up 6-2.
NSU's comeback began in the fourth. As Penate hit into a double-play, Sharad Johnson (Jr., Nassau, Bahamas) scored on the play, bringing the Sharks to within three.
Penate, Echevarria and Roberts each had two hits. Penate, McCans and FitzSimmonds each recorded two RBI.
Petty was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run, while Garcia had three RBI.
Sean Albury (Jr., Nassau, Bahamas) received the win after pitching the last two innings. He fanned three batters and allowed one hit and no runs. Scott Sexton had the loss after allowing five runs - four earned - off six hits in 5.1 innings. Sexton also struck out two.
NSU returns to action on Wednesday when the Sharks make the short trip to St. Thomas (Fla.). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
