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CARY, N.C. – For the first time in program history, the No. 5 Nova Southeastern University baseball team (42-16, 18-6 SSC) will play for a national championship, as the Sharks advance to the championship round by defeating the No. 16 Cal Poly Pomona Broncos (42-19, 26-11 CCAA) on Thursday afternoon by a score of 5-2. Julian Loret de Mola earned the win, tossing six innings of four-hit baseball and Devin Raftery earned the save, his 15th of the year.

"That was a grind," said head coach Greg Brown as he sat down in the media tent for his first relaxing moment of the day. "That's one heck of a club we just played and I'm proud of our guys for the effort they showed today."

The Sharks received an outstanding start from Loret de Mola, as he tossed 6.0 innings and allowed just two runs. "We really set the tone on the mound," said Brown. "LDM was very effective."

After falling in a 1-0 hole in the top of the second, freshman catcher Jake Anchia delivered the first blow from the NSU side, crushing a 2-1 pitch way over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead. "The game changed when Jake hit the home run," said Brown. "He might be a freshman but this young man is battle tested and has gotten big hits for us all year long."

Cal Poly tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning, giving the Broncos new life with their season on the line. The Sharks quickly responded, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Kavan Thompson led off with a single up the middle, followed by a perfect sacrifice bunt from Sebastian Diaz. Dylan Woods then singled to left, moving Thompson over to third. With runners on first and third, Jancarlos Cintron-Torres chopped a single through the left side to score Thompson and give the Sharks a 3-2 lead. A few batters later, Andres Visbal hit a two-out single through the right side, driving in Woods.

With a 4-2 lead heading into the seventh inning, Brown decided to go with Ronald Patella out of the bullpen and the redshirt-junior did exactly what was asked of him, tossing a 1-2-3 top half of the inning. Patella would turn the ball over to the Sharks' closer, Devin Raftery, who set the Broncos down in order in the top of the eighth.

The Sharks pushed across an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Visbal came through in the clutch once again, singling to left field to score Woods, making the score 5-2. Raftery then shut it down in the ninth, earning his 15th save of the year.

Cintron-Torres, Visbal, Thompson and Woods all finished with two hits in the ballgame, while Visbal and Anchia finished with two RBI.

The Sharks will play Millersville in a best of three series, beginning on Friday at 3:00 PM and concluding on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM. The backend of the doubleheader will be an if-necessary game.

Be sure to tune in to the championship round by following the links on the schedule page and follow along with the team on Twitter at @NSU_Baseball.