BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (12-6, 1-0 SSC) earned its biggest win of the season Friday night as the Sharks upset the No. 6 Tampa Spartans (13-6, 0-1 SSC), 6-4, at the NSU Baseball Complex.

Daniel Petitbon (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had the biggest hit of the game in the seventh inning as he smashed his first home run of the season over left centerfield, scoring two runs and giving the Sharks a lead they would not give up. It was Petitbon’s only hit of the game as he finished 1-for-3 with two RBI. Carlos Asuaje (Fr., Weston, Fla.) also had a solid night as he went 2-for-5 with two runs.

Nick Avila (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) (2-0) earned the win in relief of Isaac Hicks (Sr., Fort Myers, Fla.) as he pitched 2.1 shutout innings. Avila only allowed two hits and picked up one strikeout without a walk. Avila finished with a 5/1 groundout/fly out ratio. Sean Albury (Sr., Nassau, Bahamas) picked up his fifth save of the season by striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning. Just 18 games into the season, Albury has already reached half his save total from last season.

With the support of former players on alumni night, the Sharks came out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Asuaje led off the side with an infield hit and was plated on a single to right field from Areo Regoli (Jr., Homestead, Fla.). It was Regoli’s team-high 22nd RBI of the season.

NSU added to the lead with two runs in the third. Asuaje earned his second leadoff single, stole second, and eventually scored off a fielder’s choice. Andrew Durden (Sr., Portreached first base on the play and later scored from first on an error by the shortstop, putting the Sharks ahead, 3-0.

Tampa took the lead in the fourth by scoring all four of their runs. With the bases loaded, the Sharks walked a run in before giving up a three-run triple down the right field line to Tampa’s Eric Grabe. Despite trailing, the Shark’s pitching staff had Tampa’s number for the final five innings and held the Spartans to three hits.

The Sharks retook the lead in the seventh inning on Petitbon’s two-run homer. Regoli led off the side with a walk and scored on the home run. After starting the season sidelined with an injury, Petitbon has been a solid contributor by batting .417 with three RBI over four games.

NSU tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning which stretched their lead to two runs. Anthony Angulo (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) earned a free base on a walk to start the frame and was put in scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Ray Navarro (Jr., Miami, Fla.). Luis Penate (Sr., Miami, Fla.), who was without a hit entering the at bat, recorded an RBI single up the middle. Penate has now earned a hit in six straight games, going .517 over that span with a .690 on base percentage.

Despite the win, the Sharks were outhit in the contest, 9-7. However, the Sharks did a superb job of keeping the Spartans at bay, stranding 10 runners on base.

The Sharks will finish the weekend series against Tampa Saturday, March 12 at the NSU Baseball Complex in a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm.