Miami Shores, Fla. (Apr. 9, 2010) - Nova Southeastern University baseball dropped a 13-12 offensive battle at rival Barry on Friday evening at Feinbloom Field. NSU falls to 24-16 overall and 7-6 in the Sunshine State Conference, while Barry moves to 24-11 on the season and 7-6 in the SSC.

With 25 runs scored, the Sharks and the Buccaneers combined for 37 hits. NSU had 22 of those hits, which is the team's most in a single game so far this season.

The Sharks found themselves trailing by six runs through three innings after two big offensive innings by the Buccaneers. With the bases loaded in the first, Chris Leon hit a grand slam to center field to give Barry at 4-1 lead. NSU pulled to within one run in the top of the third as Eric McCans (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) single center field drove in two runs. However, the Buccaneers had a five-run third inning en route to taking a 9-3 lead.

NSU quickly responded with a powerful seven-run fourth inning. The offense got started with three-straight hits, loading the bases for Luis Penate (Jr., Miami, Fla.), who hit the game's second grand slam and made it 9-7 in favor of Barry. Then, with one out, Rhys Roberts (Sr., Parkland, Fla.) smacked a game-tying two-run homer. In the next at-bat, McCans doubled to left center and ultimately scored the go-ahead run on a Dustin Maggs (Jr., Satellite Beach, Fla.) single that put the Sharks up 10-9.

However, the Sharks' lead was short-lived as Joaquin Valdes hit a two-out, RBI double to center field in the bottom of the fourth to tie up the game. The Buccaneers broke the tie in the sixth as Gutierrez had a lead-off home run.

NSU answered right back again in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Penate sent a double to right field that brought in Haven FitzSimmonds (Jr., Loxahatchee, Fla.) to create an 11-11 tie. Yet, Barry ended the tie with two runs in the seventh. Drew Dwelly had a one-out single to center field that brought in Evan Ashley. Then with two-outs, a Matt Petty hit to left field scored Nick Shaw.

In the eighth inning, Roberts hit his second blast of the night, this time a two-out solo shot, but that was as close as the Sharks could get.

Roberts was 4-for-5 for the night with two home runs, one double, four RBI and three runs scored. Penata was 3-for-6 with five RBI.

Brett Hammaker pitched 4.2 innings en route to receiving the win. He struck out three batters, while giving up four runs and seven hits. Tyler King had the save after striking out two and allowing three hits and no runs in the final 1.1 innings.

Sean Tighe was charged with the loss after allowing two runs and three hits in one inning of work.

Gutierrez went 4-for- 5 for the Buccaneers with three runs scored, while Leon was 3-for-5 with five RBI.

NSU concludes its three-game series at Barry with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 12 Noon.