Box Score

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (6-1) picked up a win in the first game of a weekend series against the Valdosta State Blazers (2-6) at the NSU Baseball Complex Friday, 10-6. The Sharks start the season 6-1 for the second time in three years.

Haven Fitzsimmonds (Sr., Loxahatchee, Fla.) had a perfect night at the plate as he went 3-for-3 with a walk, a run and four RBI. The former All-SSC selection has earned a hit in all six of his starts this season. The Sharks put forth a balanced attack as every starter recorded a hit for the first time this season.

Isaac Hicks (Sr., Fort Myers, Fla.) (2-0) pushed his win streak to 11 in his third start of the year. Hicks allowed three earned runs over 6.1 innings and struck out five batters without allowing a walk. Chris Hamper (Jr., Melbourne, Fla.) pitched in relief for Hicks and held the Blazers scoreless over 1.2 innings. Anthony Nalepa (Sr., Miami, Fla.) closed the show by striking out two batters in the ninth inning.

The Sharks established a lead they would never lose early as they posted two runs in the opening inning. Batting leadoff for the first time this year, Carlos Asuaje (Fr., Weston, Fla.) singled to left field, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Nikko Echevarria (Sr., Abqaib, Saudi Arabia) took a pitch to the shin in the next at bat before Andrew Durden (Sr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.) drove in the game’s first run with a single to centerfield. Areo Regoli (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) would plate Echevarria with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

NSU scored a third run in the second frame when Ray Navarro (Jr., Miami, Fla.), who reached on a single to right centerfield, scored off a groundball to the pitcher from Asuaje. In the third inning, Hicks gave up a solo home run to right centerfield from VSU’s Antonio Clark. The Sharks answered back in the fourth when Luis Penate (Sr., Miami, Fla.) hit a double to left field and was plated by Fitzsimmonds’ single through the left side, putting the Sharks up, 4-1.

The Sharks did their best work in the fifth and sixth innings as they scored three runs in each side. In the bottom of the fifth, the first four batters reached base before Regoli earned his second RBI on a double to left field, scoring Durden. Dusty Maggs (Sr., Satellite Beach, Fla.) cruised home after a passed ball and Fitzsimmonds sent Regoli home with a single to right field.

The Blazers cut the Sharks’ lead to four runs in the top of the sixth inning as they scored twice. In the bottom of the sixth, Durden and Maggs began NSU’s final rally as they reached base with a single and a walk. After entering the game without a multiple base hit this season, Penate hit another double down the left field line which plated Durden. With two runners in scoring position, Fitzsimmonds drove home both with his biggest hit of the night, an RBI double to left centerfield.

The Sharks entered the seventh inning with a 10-3 lead. The Blazers would score a run in the seventh inning and two more in the ninth but never threatened NSU’s lead.

Five Sharks earned multiple hits in the contest. Michael Hartley (Sr., Davie, Fla.) received his second start of the year behind the plate and went 1-for-4.

The Sharks will conclude their weekend series with a doubleheader against VSU Saturday, Feb. 19 with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.