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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (22-10, 9-3 SSC) is heading into the most important Sunshine State Conference weekend series to date as they face the No. 14 Barry Buccaneers at the NSU Baseball Complex beginning Friday, April 8 at 6 p.m. The series will conclude Saturday, April 9 with a doubleheader slated for 1 p.m.

The series will pit two of the best three teams in the conference as Barry sits at the top with an 11-1 SSC record while NSU sits two games back at 9-3. Before this weekend, the Sharks took two wins against Eckerd (1-8 SSC) on the road. The Sharks won the series without former All-SSC selection Isaac Hicks (Sr., Fort Myers, Fla.). Senior transfer Chris Roman (Kissimmee, Fla.) filled his shoes and pitched his best game of the season, holding the Tritons to four hits over six innings while striking out four batters.

With the Eckerd series behind them, the Sharks now face their cross-town rivals in the Bucs. Despite Barry’s 14th national ranking and 11 wins in the SSC, the Sharks may hold the mental edge over the Bucs as NSU already defeated the Bucs in their ballpark this season. Back on Feb. 8, the Sharks came from behind to take down Barry, 9-7. 

Areo Regoli (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) had his finest performance in a Shark uniform, going 3-for-5 with six RBI. He hit his first collegiate grand slam in the third inning before hitting a go-ahead two-run single to left field with two outs in the ninth inning. Two starters, Anthony Angulo (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) and Daniel Petitbon (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), were not available against Barry.

The weekend series will pit the top two offensive players in the SSC against each other in Barry first baseman Dean Green and NSU centerfielder Andrew Durden (Sr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.). Durden leads the conference with 39 runs, nine home runs and a .743 slugging percentage, which matches former NSU great Bryan Cook’s percentage in 2007. Green leads the conference with 48 RBI, 14 doubles, 85 total bases and 22 walks.

A Shark sweep or a series win against Barry would likely put NSU percentage points behind No. 16 Florida Southern (7-2 SSC), who currently sit second in the conference. Although the Mocs will be favored this weekend, they will be travelling to Boca Raton, Fla. to face a resurgent team in Lynn (4-5 SSC). The Fighting Knights are still below .500 in conference play but took two out of three games against Rollins this past weekend. A series win over FSC would not only help the Sharks but also put Lynn at .500 or better.

On the other hand, a disappointing outcome for the Sharks this weekend could slip them behind Tampa (8-4 SSC). The Spartans will be heavily favored as they host the Rollins Tars (2-7 SSC). In the other conference series this weekend, Florida Tech (4-8 SSC) will travel to St. Petersburg, Fla. to face Eckerd.

The Sharks are now halfway through the conference season and are on pace to blow by the program’s best conference record. An underwhelming performance against Barry could cause it all to come crashing down but a series win could send a message to the conference that the Sharks are the most dangerous team in the SSC.

Fans can follow the Sharks via live video HERE and live stats HERE. Fans can also follow NSU Baseball on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/NSU_Baseball.