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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 8 baseball team (23-6) is set to play its first of two nonconference games against the Florida Tech Panthers (22-15) Tuesday at the NSU Baseball Complex at 6 p.m.
The Sharks will look to carry momentum into an off-week in Sunshine State Conference competition. Last week, the Sharks earned their first conference sweep, taking three games at home against Saint Leo. The sweep convinced College Baseball Lineup to name the Sharks as a top-10 team in the nation, pegging them at No. 9 overall. The Sharks also moved up to third in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association South Regional poll, with one first-place vote going to NSU.
The Sharks are aiming at the first SSC Championship in program history. Winning the conference title would give the team an automatic bid to the NCAA South Regional. More importantly, it would greatly increase the chances that NSU could be chosen as the No. 1 seed and the host institution. In order to seal the top seed, the Sharks will need to hold a winning record against tough regional opponents like Florida Tech and Palm Beach Atlantic, both of whom the Sharks face this week.
So far this season, the Sharks are 1-1 against the Panthers, with both games played in Melbourne, Fla. The Sharks won the opening game of a doubleheader, 3-1, in
Zachary Westcott’s (So., Weston, Fla.) SSC debut. Westcott pitched a complete game and extended his record to 4-0 by holding the Panthers to one run and five hits. He struck out two batters in the contest and only walked two Panthers.
In game two, the Sharks continued to put runners on base but struggled to score, as FIT won the seven-inning game, 7-2.
Scott Woodrey (Sr., Lighthouse Point, Fla.) and
Alex Marrero (Jr., Miami, Fla.) each went 2-for-3 in the game, with Woodrey batting in two runs.
Carlos Asuaje (So., Weston, Fla.) went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Roberto Baroniel (Fr., Miami, Fla.) is expected to return to his weekday starting role against the Panthers. The freshman is 1-0 on the season with a 4.50 ERA. He has 21 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched this season.
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