WINTER PARK, Fla. – No. 18 Nova Southeastern stood one pitch away from pulling ahead in the top of the ninth inning. Instead, after failing to capitalize on its bases-loaded opportunity, it was Rollins that took advantage with a walk-off sacrifice fly to upend the Sharks 3-2 in Thursday's Sunshine State Conference series opener.
Jeremy Vasquez connected on his team-leading 12th home run of the season, and starter Matt Hardy recorded his second straight strong outing. However, the Sharks ultimately stranded 12 runners on base, a number that proved costly in their second straight one-run defeat.
Nearly one week removed from his eight-inning scoreless effort against Palm Beach Atlantic, Hardy followed up the performance by tying a career-high with nine strikeouts in seven innings of work, while surrendering just four hits. With just one earned run allowed in his last 15 innings, the right-hander has now lowered his earned run average to 3.92 on the season.
In a ball game never separated by more than one run, Vasquez took advantage of a few Rollins mistakes to give Nova Southeastern the slim 2-1 edge in the top of the fifth. After Jancarlos Cintron and Dylan Woods led off the evening with back-to-back singles in the opening inning, a Vasquez grounder to first base was mishandled, allowing the speedy Cintron to come around and score. Two at-bats later, the left-handed hitting junior didn't need any help, this time mashing the 1-0 offering from Rollins starter AJ Chacon over the wall in deep right center.
Still clinging to that same 2-1 cushion with one away in the seventh, Rollins managed to even up the ball game on a costly Sharks' error in the outfield.
Nova Southeastern had its fair share of chances down the stretch of the ball game, though. In the top of the eighth, Sebastian Diaz stood 90 feet from scoring the go-ahead run following a wild throw from the Rollins third baseman. However, one of the Sharks' 12 strikeouts on the night halted the rally and kept the contest knotted at 2-2.
In the ensuing frame, Nova Southeastern threatened yet again. A pair of two-out singles by Woods and Brandon Gomez kept the inning alive before Vasquez drew a walk to load the bases. Jake Anchia then worked a 3-0 count in his favor in the next at-bat, but after a called strike, eventually flew out to center as the Sharks watched another opportunity go by the wayside.
Woods finished the night 2-for-4 at the plate, as he and fellow table-setter Cintron each reached base three times apiece.
NSU will look to erase its current three-game skid when both teams return to the diamond for the first of two on Saturday at noon. For complete coverage throughout the afternoon, log onto NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball.
