BOX SCORE

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (34-17) earned the program’s first NCAA postseason victory Friday, May 20 in Pensacola, Fla. as the Sharks defeated the Stillman Tigers (26-19), 12-3. The win bumps the Sharks into the third round as they will take on either Harding or North Alabama on Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m.

"It’s important that we got our first postseason victory as it’s been a long time coming,” said first year head coach Greg Brown. “This victory gives us something we can build on this week and in future regional appearances.”

In his second start at NSU, Mauricio Rodriguez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) (3-1) pitched a complete game en route to his third victory of the season. Rodriguez threw 132 pitches in the game and struck out six batters. With only seven hits and two earned runs allowed, his ERA dropped over two points to 6.12. It was only the second nine-inning complete game of the season for the Sharks.

"This kind of tournament calls for players to do things that they haven’t done all year,” said Brown. “Mo stepped up and put his team in a strong position to make a run.”

Rodriguez had a shaky start to the game as he gave up three runs in the first inning. After that, Rodriguez threw eight shutout frames. Rodriguez stranded six runners on base and most importantly, gave the rest of the pitchers a day off before a weekend in which the Sharks must win five games in three days to keep the season alive.

Offensively, the Sharks put forth a steady offense in which every starter earned a hit. Seven starters had multiple-hit games, with Daniel Petitbon (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) leading the pack as he went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. Petitbon hit a career-high three doubles in the game while tying his career high in runs scored. 

Andrew Durden (Sr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.) hit the first home run of any player in the 2011 South Region Tournament in the third inning. His homer went over left field and scored three runs which erased a Stillman one-run lead. Durden finished 1-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. 

Luis Penate (Sr., Miami, Fla.) tied the game-high with three runs scored as he went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Dusty Maggs (Sr., Satellite Beach, Fla.), Haven Fitzsimmonds (Sr., Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Blake Boyd (So., Jupiter, Fla.) also went 2-for-5 while Boyd added a run as well.

The Sharks were aggressive on the base paths as they collected four stolen bases. Areo Regoli (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) and Boyd stole one while Nikko Echevarria (Jr., Abqaib, Saudi Arabia) nabbed two. Echevarria, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, recorded his first multiple stolen base game since opening day on Feb. 2 against Northwood. Regoli went 2-for-4 with two RBI and is now second on the team in stolen bases with 16. 

Carlos Asuaje (Fr., Weston, Fla.), who was recently named SSC Freshman of the Year and a member of College Baseball Lineup’s Division II All-Star Team, went 1-for-5 with two runs scored.

The Sharks will move on to face the loser of the game between North Alabama and Harding in Pensacola, Fla. on Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m.

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