Miami Gardens, Fla. (Apr. 14, 2010)  Behind an 18 hit offensive attack, the Nova Southeastern University baseball team downed St. Thomas 12-3 in action at Bobcat Field on Wednesday evening. The win improves the Sharks record to 26-17 on the season while St. Thomas falls to 23-23.

The Sharks scored first on a RBI single up the middle by sophomore left fielder Jonathan Escarza (Miami, Fla.) in the top of the second inning. After St. Thomas knotted the score at one apiece in the bottom of the second, NSU struck for three runs on four hits in the top of the third inning to lead 4-1.

The Bobcats struck for a run in the bottom of the fourth inning but had two runners stranded on base by Sharks starting pitcher Chris Hamper (So., Melbourne, Fla.).

Nova Southeastern left the bases loaded in the sixth inning after senior third baseman Rhys Roberts (Parkland, Fla.) drove in a run on a RBI single up the middle with two outs.

St. Thomas scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh before NSU took advantage of back-to-back walks to lead off the top of the eighth inning. Three hits and three runs later, the Sharks led 8-3.

Senior third baseman Eric McCans (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) drove in two runs with a RBI double and designated hitter Haven FitzSimmonds (Jr., Loxahatchee, Fla.) had a RBI single in the top of the ninth inning. Senior Matt Fisher (Sunrise, Fla.) also had a RBI double to account for the final 12-3 score.

Hamper earned the win, pitching six strong innings allowing two runs on nine hits. Junior Torey Ekey (Merritt Island, Fla.) pitched the final three innings to earn his first save of the season.

The Sharks return home to the NSU Baseball Complex to host Saint Leo in a Sunshine State Conference series opener on Friday, April 16th at 6 pm.