Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Looking to redeem itself after a loss to Palm Beach Atlantic, Nova Southeastern University's baseball team (9-3) came up short, losing to Northwood University (10-5) by a score of 7-5.
Ronald Patella (R-Jr., Davie, Fla.) took the loss, moving his record to 0-1.
Cameron Churchill (Fr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) started the game for the Sharks, tossing four innings of five hit baseball, allowing just two earned runs, while striking out four batters. Churchill settled down after a rough top of the first inning, when he allowing two runs on four hits. After cruising through the second, third and fourth innings, Churchill's day was done after giving up a two hits to start the fifth inning and
Matt Hardy (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and
Alexander Kline (Jr., Coral Springs, Fla.) took to reigns. Hardy allowed one run in 0.1 innings pitched, while Kline tossed 2.2 scoreless innings.
The Sharks scored four of their five runs in the bottom fifth inning, thanks to three hits from
Alexander Fernandez (Sr., Davie, Fla.),
Justin Garcia (Jr., Hialeah, Fla.) and pinch-hitter
Nick McNeil (Jr., Clearwater, Fla.). Garcia's single scored
Mario Urdaneta (Sr., Ocala, Fla.), who led the inning with a leadoff walk. McNeil followed with a two-RBI single, scoring Fernandez and Garcia. McNeil later scored on a passed ball.
Patella took over the pitching duties in the top of the eighth inning, giving momentum to the offense by striking out two of the four batters he faced. The Sharks tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning after a leadoff single from
Roche Woodard (Sr., Tampa, Fla.), one of his three hits on the night, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Urdaneta. Woodard then scored on wild pitch after advancing to third on a Fernandez infield single.
Unfortunately for the Sharks, Patella hit the first batter in the top of the ninth inning, then allowed a double to centerfield, scoring the runner all the way from first base. The Seahawks added one more run in the frame on a sacrifice fly to left field, pushing the lead to 7-5.
The Sharks were down to their last three outs in the bottom of the ninth, threatening to tie the ballgame after loading the bases for Garcia. Unfortunately, Garcia flied out to left field, ending the game and adding three more runners to the total of 17 runners left on base throughout the contest.
NSU will be back in action Friday night, hosting Albany State beginning at 6 p.m.
