CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University baseball team (25-12, 11-4 SSC) fell to the nation's No. 1 team, the Miami Hurricanes (26-4, 11-2 ACC), on Tuesday night at Mark Light Field by a score of 8-3.
 
The Sharks hung with the top ranked Hurricanes through the first five innings, as Jonny Ortiz kept Miami's bats off balance, allowing just one run in the first five frames. Ortiz's ability to throw his off-speed pitches for strikes against a left-handed heavy lineup was vital in keeping the Sharks within one run against the No. 1 Hurricanes.
 
"Jonny Ortiz gave us a great outing," said head coach Greg Brown. "He kept us in the game and gave us a shot to win. We were one or two hits away from taking a lead early in the game and putting pressure on the 'Canes."
 
The Sharks had multiple opportunities to take the lead early in the game, but failed to cash in as they left runners in scoring position in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. The Sharks' missed opportunities proved to be costly, as Miami scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The 'Canes tacked on another run in the seventh inning, extending their lead to 8-0.
 
The Sharks had no plans of being shut out on Tuesday night and rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth inning. Dylan Woods led the inning off with a single to left field, followed by Cintron reaching safely on an error by the Hurricanes second baseman. With runners on first and second and no outs, Sebastian Diaz hit a ground ball to Miami's second baseman that was fumbled and allowed Woods to score from second and Cintron to advance to third. Daniel Zardon then stepped to the plate and sent a fly ball to centerfield, deep enough to score Cintron. After Diaz advanced to second on a Brandon Gomez ground out, Andres Visbal hit a line drive off of the right field wall, scoring Diaz to make the score 8-3.
 
Unfortunately for the Sharks, it was too little too late as the 'Canes held on and ended NSU's 12-game winning streak. Jake Anchia, Michael Hernandez, Kevin Suarez, Cintron, Gomez, and Woods each collected hits in the ballgame, with Gomez leading the offense with two hits on the night. Devin Pellien struck out two Hurricanes in one inning of work out of the bullpen and Devin Raftery recorded three punch-outs in his one inning of relief.
 
NSU will be back in action on Friday night against Rollins College at the NSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.