FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 13 Nova Southeastern University baseball team (29-13, 14-4 SSC) made quick work of the Embry-Riddle Eagles (28-17) on Friday night, launching four home runs and taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning, eventually winning by a score of 11-5.
Alex Mateo tossed 8.0 innings, earning his sixth win, while
Michael Hernandez,
Brandon Gomez,
Andres Visbal and
Dylan Woods all homered throughout the game.
The Sharks began their scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Hernandez caught every bit of a first-pitch fastball on his barrel, sending it over the right-centerfield fence for a two-run home run.
Kavan Thompson following with a triple and would later score on a Woods single to right field, making the score 3-0. Thompson finished the night a home run short of the cycle after doubling and singling in his second and third at-bats, respectively.
Heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, there was a buzz at the NSU Baseball Complex after it was announced that a Sharks home run in the fifth would win everyone in the stands a free six-inch sub. Sharks fans were on the edge of their seats, gasping at every big swing the Sharks took and when Gomez connected on a 2-1 fastball, the crowd erupted in joy, as the ball went over the left-centerfield fence. Four pitches later, Visbal launched his eighth home run of the year over the right field wall to give the Sharks a 6-0 lead. NSU wasn't done in the fifth inning, as
Dylan Woods capped the scoring with a monster two-run shot over the centerfield fence.
Alex Mateo trotted back out to the mound in the sixth with an eight-run cushion and a no-hitter on the line, but surrendered four runs in the sixth, ending his no-hit bid and shutout attempt. That was the only inning that the Eagles would score against Mateo, as the senior right-hander tossed seven other scoreless innings and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts.
Michael Hernandez continued his solid night at the plate, driving in two more runs in the sixth inning to make the score 10-4.
Sebastian Diaz added a run in the seventh, flying out to centerfield to score Woods.
The Eagles would score one more in the ninth, but senior Steve Fleming came in to shut the down in what may prove to be his final appearance at the NSU Baseball Complex, as he struck out the final hitter of the ballgame looking.
The Sharks will be back in action tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m. The games will be preceded by the Senior Day festivities, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Be sure to tune in to the games by following the team on Twitter at @NSU_Baseball and clicking on the links on the schedule page.
Tweets of the Night
