GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (23-12, 10-5 SSC) split a doubleheader against the No. 14 Barry Buccaneers (27-10, 13-2 SSC) Saturday at the NSU Baseball Complex. The Sharks dropped the first game, 8-4, before taking the second game, 11-1.

In the Sharks’ win, Sean Tighe (Jr., Hobe Sound, Fla.) (4-4) came through for the Sharks as he threw a 7-inning complete game four-hitter. Tighe was one strikeout short of his career-high as he fanned nine Bucs while not allowing any free bases. Tighe held a 2-1 groundout/fly ball ratio in the Sharks’ 10th conference victory. Since starting the season 1-4, Tighe has not posted a loss while holding a 1.88 ERA over four starts. He has averaged over seven strikeouts a game and has allowed only four extra base hits over that span.

Areo Regoli (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) had a solid outing in the win as he went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Andrew Durden (Sr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.) was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, both of which were extra-base hits, with three runs and a RBI. Dusty Maggs (Sr., Satellite Beach, Fla.) collected a team-high three RBI as he went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Sharks took down the top team in the Sunshine State Conference with a steady offensive attack as they scored in all but one inning of work. The Sharks opened up the game with two runs in the first. Daniel Petitbon (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Durden hit back-to-back doubles to put a run on the board. Maggs followed up with a single through the right side that plated Durden.

The Sharks continued to build on their lead with one run in both the second and third innings. Michael Hartley (Sr., Davie, Fla.) earned a hit in his first plate appearance of the day on a single up the middle. He would later score on an error by the shortstop. Durden led off with his second double and advanced to third on a single from Regoli. Maggs sent him home on a sacrifice fly to right field.

After a scoreless fourth frame, the Sharks had their biggest inning of the weekend in the fifth as they scored four runs. After collecting two doubles in his first two at bats, Barry beamed Durden to put a leadoff runner on base. Regoli followed up with a single before Nikko Echevarria (Jr., Abqaib, Saudi Arabia) walked to load the bases. With two outs, Blake Boyd (So., Jupiter, Fla.) hit a single to centerfield that scored two runs. Echevarria would score during the play on a throwing error on the centerfielder. Carlos Asuaje (Fr., Weston, Fla.) capped off the inning with a RBI single to centerfield.

After Barry posted their only run with a homer in the sixth, the Sharks scored their final three runs in the bottom of the inning. Matt Seese (Sr., Ocala, Fla.) reached base on an error before Regoli singled to left field. Maggs collected his final hit of the day as he plated Seese on a single to centerfield. Echevarria and Hartley would each hit RBI doubles to left field to put the Sharks up by 10 runs.

In the Sharks’ loss, Luis Penate (Sr., Miami, Fla.), Petitbon and Regoli each went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Nick Avila (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) (3-1) earned his first loss of the season in his eighth start by allowing five earned runs over six innings.

Avila held the Bucs at bay over the first four innings which allowed the Sharks to take a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Petitbon started the rally with a single through the left side. With two outs on the board, Regoli reached base on an error which allowed Peitibon to advance to third. Maggs made the Bucs pay for their mistake by collecting two RBI on a single to left centerfield.

The Bucs answered back with a two-run bomb in the top of the fifth. The Bucs would take the lead with a run in the sixth and seal the deal with four runs in the seventh, putting the visiting squad up, 7-2. The Sharks were close to rallying in the sixth as they had bases loaded with one out but could not score.

After Barry put an insurance run up in the ninth, the Sharks tried to rally by doubling their score in the final frame. Ray Navarro (Jr., Miami, Fla.) picked up a RBI on a single to right field while Asuaje plated Penate on a grounder to the pitcher.

Although the Sharks dropped the conference series, 2-1, Barry and NSU are now tied on the season at two games apiece. The season series will be decided on April 19 in Miami Shores, Fla.

The Sharks will look to win the season series against Florida Tech this Tuesday, April 12 in Melbourne, Fla. at 3 p.m.