FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Top-ranked Nova Southeastern picked up right where it left off from a year ago, blasting four home runs and receiving 6.1 quality innings on the mound from newcomer Devin Meyer en route to a comfortable 11-2 victory over Tusculum on Opening Night.
Looking to build off his spectacular junior campaign in 2016 in which he recorded a team-high 21 home runs, preseason All-American Brandon Gomez notched his third career multi-home run game in the win, while Andrew Liberty and Jeremy Vasquez each added big flies of their own.
Following an emotional pregame ceremony in which the Sharks honored late teammate Dallas Perez, the team appeared inspired to carry out his legacy with a strong effort on the diamond. Wearing No. 21 in tribute of Perez this season, center fielder Kevin Suarez sparked Nova Southeastern with a bases-clearing double in the top of the first inning – a moment that sent chills throughout the NSU Baseball Complex.
"It was an emotional night, it was a tough night for all of us," said head coach Greg Brown. "To honor the Perez family as we did, I'm very proud of who are guys are and what we stand for. We're fortunate to have swung the bats well and get the type of pitching that we did on the mound. I can't say enough about this group. We're going to enjoy this one, but it's back to work in the morning."
Already in front 4-0 in the bottom of the second, Liberty liked what he saw on the first pitch of the inning and sent the Christian Raasch offering deep over the leftfield wall for a no-doubt homer. Two batters later, Gomez launched a two-run shot to dead center to extend the lead to 7-0 in favor of the home team.
As Meyer continued to keep the Pioneers off balance on the hill, Nova Southeastern continued to tack on the runs offensively. Still ahead by the same seven-run margin in the bottom of the fourth, Gomez smashed his second homer of the ball game before Vasquez made it back-to-back dingers with a deep drive into the parking garage beyond the center field fence.
From there, the Sharks coasted, returning the favor against Tusculum a year after the Pioneers knocked off NSU in the season opener in 2016.
Meyer surrendered two earned runs on six hits, while tallying four strikeouts in his first career start with the Sharks.
NSU will return to the diamond on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET for a doubleheader matchup with Alabama-Huntsville. For complete coverage of Saturday's action, log onto NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball.
