Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University Sharks (25-5, 7-1 SSC) split Saturday's doubleheader against the Lynn University Fighting Knights (24-7, 7-4 SSC) winning game one by a score of 11-5 and dropping game two by a score of 14-8. Roberto Baroniel (Sr., Miami, Fla.) earned his sixth win in game one, while Ryan Castellanos (Jr., Davie, Fla.) fell the Fighting Knights in game two for his second loss of the season.
 
Game 1
 
In a game that took nearly 24 hours to complete, the Sharks put up 11 runs and 13 hits to take game one of the three-game set against the Fighting Knights. After Lynn jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, NSU responded by scoring three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Sharks loaded the bases with three straight walks to begin the inning, followed by a two-RBI single to left field by Dylan Woods (So., New Symrna Beach, Fla.). Mario Urdaneta (Sr., Ocala, Fla.) then sent a fly ball to deep right field, deep enough to score Antonio Rodriguez (Jr., Coral Gables, Fla.) from third base.
 
After the top of the second, the sky opened up and the rain and lightning postponed Friday nights contest until Saturday at noon. Lynn took full advantage of the nine-hour overnight delay, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning, when play resumed on Saturday morning. Responding to the Fighting Knights' energy, NSU scored five runs in the top of the third inning, taking a commanding 8-4 lead. Michael Hernandez (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled to centerfield, scoring Justin Garcia (Jr., Hialeah, Fla.). Rodriguez later doubled to left-centerfield, scoring Andres Visbal (So., Miami, Fla.) and Hernandez. The inning was capped by an Urdaneta single, which scored Woods and Kavan Thompson (Jr., Merritt Island, Fla.).
 
NSU added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning, beginning with Urdaneta's second sacrifice fly of the game, driving in Thompson. Garcia then doubled to right centerfield, scoring Alexander Fernandez (Sr., Davie, Fla.) and Roche Woodard (Sr., Tampa, Fla.). Lynn added one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it was too little, too late, as Zachary Westcott (R-Sr., Weston, Fla.) shut the door for his first save of the season, tossing four innings, while allowing just one run.
 
Game 2
 
Feeding off of their game one win, NSU came out swinging in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs on a three-run home run by Garcia to take an early lead. The Lynn offense fired right back in the bottom of the first inning, tying the game at 3-3, highlighted by a two-run home run.
 
The Fighting Knights added six more runs in the bottom of the second inning, knocking Castellanos around for five hits including a three-run home run, while capitalizing on two NSU errors to take a 9-3 lead.
 
After Lynn added one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Sharks began to chip away at the deficit, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Garcia led the inning off with a triple to centerfield, later scoring on a Hernandez single. After advanced to second base on a Rodriguez single, Hernandez scored on a single by Woods, making the score 10-5. Lynn added another run in the bottom of the fifth, but that didn't phase the NSU offense, as they strung together three more runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 11-8. Lynn would pull away from then on, scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth inning and two in the bottom of the seventh inning, leaving the game too far out of reach for the Sharks.
 
NSU will head back to Lynn University on Sunday for the rubber match of the three-game Sunshine State Conference series. Alex Mateo (Jr., Miami, Fla.) will get the ball for the Sharks, looking to win a third straight SSC series for NSU. First pitch is set for noon. Be sure to tune in to the game, following the links on the schedule page.