BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (22-11, 9-4 SSC) played its most exciting game of the season against the Barry Buccaneers (26-9, 12-1 SSC) Friday night at the NSU Baseball Complex but lost in the 13th inning, 4-3. The game marked the first 13-inning game in the program’s NCAA era.

The game was a back-and-forth struggle in which both teams held the momentum multiple times. The Sharks had their chances to win the game and even had the game-winning run called out at the plate twice. The go-ahead run in top of the 13th inning came from Barry’s Harold Holness who scored on Drew Dwelly’s RBI single through the left side. The Sharks had the tying run on second base but the runner, Nikko Echevarria (Jr., Abqaib, Saudi Arabia) was forced out at third to end the game. The season series is now tied at one game apiece as the Sharks defeated Barry in early February.

Andrew Durden (Sr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and Dusty Maggs (Sr., Satellite Beach, Fla.) hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Durden’s bomb went over the left centerfield fence and was his team-high 10th of the season. It was also his team’s first hit of the game as Barry’s Manny Rodriguez had pitched four perfect innings. Maggs followed suit with his sixth home run of the season that sailed over the right field fence, putting the Sharks up, 2-1.

The Sharks’ pitching staff had a great game as the team combined to throw 18 strikeouts, the team’s highest total in the NCAA era. Isaac Hicks (Sr., Fort Myers, Fla.) started the game and held Barry to one earned run over 5.1 innings pitched while striking out five batters. Torey Ekey (Sr., Merritt Island, Fla.) pitched well out of the bullpen as he only allowed two hits over 1.2 innings. From the eighth through the 10th inning, Chris Roman (Sr., Kissimmee, Fla.) and Sean Albury (Sr., Nassau, Bahamas) combined for eight strikeouts over nine outs while holding the Bucs to one hit. Anthony Nalepa (Sr., Miami, Fla.) (1-1) threw 35 pitches over 2.1 innings but gave up a run in the 13th frame to take his first loss of the season.

The game started with a pitching duel as Hicks and Rodriguez were both mowing down batters over the first five innings. Hicks gave up an unearned run in the third inning but otherwise held Barry scoreless over the first five frames. Rodriguez had a no-hitter going into the fifth when he allowed back-to-back home runs from Durden and Maggs. The Bucs answered back by taking the lead with solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Sharks entered the ninth trailing by a run but rallied quickly as Areo Regoli (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) and Daniel Petitbon (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) kicked the side off with consecutive walks. Durden was hit by a pitch to fill up the bases before Anthony Angulo (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) hit a dramatic game-tying RBI infield single that was close to being a double play. With bases loaded and one out on the board, Barry pitcher Jordan Wellander threw a wild pitch that sent all runners, but Petitbon did not reach home plate in time to win the game. The game went into extra innings on a flyout to right field to end the ninth.

The Sharks had their best chance to win in extra innings during the 12th. Maggs drew a leadoff walk before pinch runner Alan Avila (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) entered for him. Michael Hartley (Sr., Davie, Fla.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Avila, causing the Bucs to decide to intentionally walk Luis Penate (Sr., Miami, Fla.). Ray Navarro (Jr., Miami, Fla.) hit a single through the left side to load the bases. With one out, Carlos Asuaje (Fr., Weston, Fla.) hit a fly ball to left field and the Sharks sent Avila home. Unfortunately, left fielder Lyndon Coleman made the perfect throw to the plate to tag out Avila.

NSU had the tying run on second base with no outs in the 13th frame but could not even the score.

The Sharks will look to rebound Saturday, April 9 as they face Barry in a doubleheader at the NSU Baseball Complex beginning at 1 p.m.