Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Extending its best start in program history, Nova Southeastern University's baseball team (8-0) dominated the No. 11 Southern New Hampshire University Penmen (0-2) on Saturday afternoon, winning by a score of 10-3.
The Sharks offense came alive, smacking 15 hits, including three hits from
Yandy Viera (Sr., Miami, Fla.) and home runs from
Mario Urdaneta (Sr., Ocala, Fla.) and
Justin Garcia (Jr., Hialeah, Fla.). The offense was complimented by another stellar pitching performance from the Sharks' pitching staff, consisting of
Alex Mateo (Jr., Miami, Fla.),
Ronald Patella (R-Jr., Davie, Fla.) and
Alexander Kline (Jr., Coral Springs, Fla.). Mateo picks up his second win of the year, lowering his ERA to 2.12 from 3.27.
The Sharks didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard, posting three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Urdaneta sent a solo-home run over the right-field wall,
Andres Visbal (So., Miami, Fla.) singled to centerfield, allowing Garcia to score. Viera then doubled down the left-field line, driving in Visbal and pushing the Penmen's starting pitcher out of the game.
The Sharks struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning after Viera tripled to right-centerfield and
Antonio Rodriguez (Jr., Coral Gables, Fla.) grounded out to shortstop, scoring Viera. NSU's bats weren't done there, registering four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, highlighted by a towering two-run home run from Garcia, traveling deep into the Miami Dolphins practice facility behind right field.
The Sharks were given their ninth run of the night in the bottom of the sixth, when the SNHU pitcher attempted to pick
Roche Woodard (Sr., Tampa, Fla.) off at first base, but the over throw allowed Woodard to score all the way from first base. The Sharks earned their final run of the night in the bottom of the seventh inning on a combination of singles from pinch-hitters
Ryan Dodge (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.),
Ryan Woodrey (R-Sr., Lighthouse Point, Fla.) and
Julian Pino (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.).
Jacob Blackiston (So., Hacienda Heights, Calif.) later added his first hit as a Shark, capping off an outstanding offensive performance from NSU.
The Penmen would show life in the top of the eighth inning, scoring two runs on three hits, which would not be enough to threaten the Sharks' lead.
The series concludes Sunday, with the Sharks looking for a three-game sweep. Due to the weather forecast in the Northeast, the game has been pushed to 11:30 a.m. from its original noon start.
