BOX SCORE
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (10-7) picked up their 10th win of the season Wednesday ninght in a 10-run come-from-behind thriller to defeat Wilmington (5-5), 10-9, on a walk-off single by
Brett Clements (Sr., Riverview, Fla.) in the home half of the ninth at the NSU Baseball Complex.
NSU tallied 17 hits in the contest with the offense being led by
Brandon Sedell (So., Davie, Fla.) and Clements, who combined for seven hits, four RBI and three runs scored. Sedell went 4-for-5 at the dish with two RBI and two runs scored with Clements going 3-for-4, including the game-winner, while he also had two RBI and one run scored. Another Shark notable was
Carlos Asuaje (Jr., Weston, Fla.), who went 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Both teams started slow, but it was Wilmington that made the first significant impact, chalking up eight runs on three hits (which included two errors by the Sharks) in the top of the third to take a commanding lead. In the home half of the third, the Sharks were shut down, and the Wildcats scored one more in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to 9-0.
Trailing by nine, the Sharks refused to go down without a fight, matching the Wildcats' eight-run inning with an eight-spot of their own in the bottom of the fifth. The Sharks started with three consecutive singles by Sedell, Clements and
Anthony Angulo (Sr., Homestead, Fla.), respectively. NSU registered their first run off a groundout to first by
Angel Navarro (So., Miami Lakes), advancing each runner a base. On the ensuing at-bat,
Kavan Thompson (Fr., Melbourne, Fla.) rounded Clements from third on a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the lead to seven, 9-2. With Angulo in scoring position, Asuaje hit a RBI single to right field to round Angulo and add another run for NSU. Asuaje was able to steal second and was driven home off a hard-hit ball to right field by
Alex Marrero (Sr., Miami, Fla.) to move within five of the Wildcats.
The Sharks put runners in scoring position once again off a single to right field by
Jose Rodriguez (Sr., Hialeah, Fla.), advancing Marrero to third. On the ensuing at-bat,
Julian Loret de Mola (So., Miami, Fla.) singled, plating Marrero and moving Rodriguez to the corner to cut the lead, 9-5. Sedell then cleared the bases off a double rocked down the left field line to score two more for NSU, moving within two of the Wildcats, 9-7. Finally, Clements cut the lead to one with double to the right field wall, which ended the Sharks' eight-run rally but sparked a tremendous momentum swing which NSU took advantage of in the following inning.
The defense shut down the Wildcats in the top of the sixth, which allowed them to continue their offensive momentum in the bottom half of the inning. With Asuaje on second, reaching on a walk and wild pitch, Marrero singled up the middle, allowing Asuaje to round the corner and score the game-tying run.
The Sharks defense once again prevailed, shutting down Wilmington in the final three innings, giving the team one last opportunity in the home half of the ninth to finish their rally and capture the win. After a couple of Wildcat errors, an intentional walk and a single up the middle by Sedell moved Shark runners in scoring position. With the bases loaded and no outs on the board, Clements stepped up once again for NSU with a walk-off single over the centerfielder's head to score Rodriguez and finalize the comeback victory.
NSU used four pitchers in the contest with
Shane Hill (Sr., Davie, Fla.) getting the start, facing 13 batters, recording three strikeouts and allowing four runs in 2.2 hitless innings pitched.
Kenny Miranda (So., Loxahatchee, Fla.), in relief ,captured his first win of the season, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing five runs on five hits with one strikeout.
Colton Rogers (Fr., Coral Springs, Fla.) gave up a hit before being relieved by
Roberto Baroniel (So., Miami, Fla.) who closed out the game for NSU, pitching the remaining 1.2 innings, facing seven batters, allowing one hit and striking out one.
The Sharks take the field once again in an early morning contest, Saturday, March 9 against College of Saint Rose at the NSU Baseball Complex. Although first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m., fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the roads on campus will close at 8:45 a.m. until the end of the 2013 Broward Heart Walk.
For the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit
www.NSUSharks.com. To have results sent directly to your cell phone via text message, sign up for SMS text message delivery by
clicking here. For the latest news, be sure to sign up for the Shark Alert E-newsletter by
clicking here.
