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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team returns from its first Sunshine State Conference series to play two out-of-region midweek games at the NSU Baseball Complex. The Sharks (11-4) take on the Philadelphia Rams (3-8) Tuesday at 6 p.m. before facing the St. Michael’s Purple Knights (1-1) Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The Sharks are coming off a tough week in which they lost a home game against Southern New Hampshire, 14-8, and split a road doubleheader against Florida Tech, winning 3-1 and losing 7-2. The Sharks were scheduled to play a series deciding game against the Panthers Sunday but the game was cancelled due to inclement weather.
NSU entered last week in the national top-25 for the first time all season. After taking their third and fourth losses of the season, the Sharks were dropped from the national coaches poll behind five other unranked teams. Despite 12 teams in the top-30 with more losses, the Sharks will need to break off another long winning streak in order to be recognized by the national poll voters.
That winning streak can start this week against two northern opponents. The Rams have had a brutal start to the season with eight losses in 11 games. They have lost their last three games and allowed 35 runs during the streak. Nine out of their 12 pitchers who’ve appeared this season hold ERA’s over five. St. Michael’s has just started its season, splitting its first two games against Concordia, winning 10-8 before losing 13-4.
The two midweek games will lead into the Sharks’ higher profile game against No. 20 Franklin Pierce on Saturday. Despite Franklin Pierce’s national ranking, the Sharks should defeat all three teams based on previous results. Last season, NSU dispatched then-10th ranked Franklin Pierce, 11-3, and St. Michael’s, 13-4, on back-to-back nights. Despite never playing Philadelphia in program history, NSU has had great success against teams from their region.
Both midweek games will give the Sharks a chance to dig deep into their pitching staff. Due to the rain-shortened weekend, several key members of the NSU pitching staff did not receive any playing time. This group includes newcomer
Mike Gonzalez (Jr., Miami, Fla.), veteran reliever
Mauricio Rodriguez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) and closer
Sean Tighe (Sr., Hobe Sound, Fla.). Shark fans can expect freshman arms such as
Roberto Baroniel (Miami, Fla.) or
Ronald Patella (Davie, Fla.) to continue their progression during out-of-region play.
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