GAME ONE BOX | GAME TWO BOX
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (17-5, 3-2 SSC) split a doubleheader against the Eckerd Tritons (13-13, 2-7 SSC) Saturday at the NSU Baseball Complex. The Sharks were upset in game one, 3-2, and erased a five-run deficit to win game two, 9-8. The Sharks took the three-game weekend series against Eckerd, 2-1.
GAME ONE
The Sharks were upset in the opening game of the day, taking a 3-2 loss against the Tritons. NSU held the Tritons scoreless in seven innings but could not muster up enough offense to earn the victory.
Cody Stiles (Jr., Coral Springs, Fla.) (2-1) earned his first loss as a Shark by allowing three earned runs despite only giving up three hits.
Mike Gonzalez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) continued his strong season in relief, pitching five scoreless innings while striking out four batters. Gonzalez lowered his ERA to 1.19 over 22.2 innings pitched.
After each team went scoreless in the first three innings, Eckerd posted all three of their runs over the fourth and fifth innings. The Sharks answered back with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
Ray Navarro (Sr., Miami, Fla.) led off with a single up the middle. After two straight outs,
Carlos Asuaje (So., Weston, Fla.) sent him home off a double to centerfield.
After posting two more goose eggs on the board, the Sharks almost rallied back in the eighth inning.
Chris Morales (Jr., Miami, Fla.) and
Daniel Petitbon (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) picked up their team’s momentum with two singles.
Javi Sujo (Sr., Miami, Fla.) batted into a fielder’s choice but drove home Morales to bring the Sharks’ deficit to one run. After an error and a wild pitch, Sujo moved to third base, representing the tying run. However, the Tritons left Sujo stranded on a strikeout. The Sharks ended the game in the ninth, going three-up-three-down.
Morales, Petitbon and Sujo all went 2-for-4 in the contest, making up two thirds of the Sharks’ hits.
GAME TWO
The Sharks erased a five-run sixth-inning deficit thanks to four home runs, winning the series-deciding game against the Tritons, 9-8. The game was scheduled to go seven innings but ended on a sacrifice fly from Petitbon in the bottom of the eighth.
Areo Regoli (Sr., Homestead, Fla.) had a perfect outing and went 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, two home runs and two walks. It was his fourth multiple home run game of the season. Asuaje went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored while
Alex Marrero (Jr., Miami, Fla.) made his first start of the week, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run.
The Sharks put themselves in a big hole early, allowing six runs over the first two innings. Regoli blasted a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left centerfield to start the game in the first inning. It was his 11th home run of the season. Morales cut the deficit in half in the third frame with smart base running. He reached base on a bunt single before advancing all the way to third base off a throwing error. In the next at bat, Morales cruised home on a wild pitch.
The Tritons tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning, building a five-run lead. The Sharks began their rally in the bottom of the inning with three runs, their highest scoring inning of the day. Regoli led off the inning with a home run to right centerfield, bringing his season-total to 12 home runs. The count ties for first in the nation according to the latest statistical release from the NCAA.
After two straight outs, Marrero hit his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to right field. After
Ryan Woodrey (Fr., Lighthouse Point, Fla.) hit a single through the left side,
Angel Navarro (Fr., Miami Lakes, Fla.) entered the game as a pinch runner. Ray Navarro advanced him one base on a single, setting up two-straight wild pitches that brought home the speedy freshman.
The Sharks still trailed by two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Asuaje continued the Sharks’ climb back into the game with a leadoff home run to right field. It was his first home run of the season. Regoli and Petitbon both reached base on balls and each stole a base to put themselves in scoring position with one out. Sujo came through with a deep sacrifice fly to right field.
In the extra eighth inning,
Nikko Echevarria (Sr., Abqaib, Saudi Arabia) recorded the Sharks’ third-straight leadoff hit, a single through the left side. Asuaje and Regoli walked to fill the bases before Petitbon won the game on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. It was the Sharks’ second walk-off hit of the season.
Once again, the bullpen came in handy for NSU.
Mauricio Rodriguez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing only one hit and one earned run. He struck out three batters in his second appearance of the week.
Sean Tighe (Sr., Hobe Sound, Fla.) (2-1) closed the game and picked up the victory. He was perfect over 2.2 innings pitched, retiring nine batters and striking out four.
The Sharks return to the NSU Baseball Complex this Wednesday, March 28 against Ave Maria at 6 p.m.
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