CLEVELAND, Miss. – Nova Southeastern's run at a second consecutive NCAA Division II national title came to a close on Sunday night. Just days after being outmatched by the Sharks, West Alabama used a fielder's choice to break a 9-9 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning before holding on for the stunning 10-9 win.
As a team, the Sharks recorded six home runs on their way to a 20-5 opening-round victory over the Tigers on Thursday. Jake Anchia and Dylan Woods each homered this time around, but Nova Southeastern managed only six hits and wasn't quite able to make its 8-6 lead stand up down the stretch.
West Alabama's Marcus Morrisette connected on a two-run homer in the seventh and later tallied the game-winning RBI in the effort. The third baseman-converted-pitcher even registered the final three outs on the mound in just his third appearance this season – all coming during regionals.
After pouring it on against the Tigers earlier in the week, Nova Southeastern appeared in line for another offensive outburst when Woods opened the top of the first inning with a two-run blast to right before the game's first out had even been recorded. Up 2-1 in the third, Anchia launched a towering shot to left for what was the Sharks' eighth long ball in just 11 innings versus the Tigers this postseason.
West Alabama didn't wilt this time, however. Following a pair of runs in the home half of the third, the Tigers responded with three more in the fourth to grab a 6-3 advantage.
The Nova Southeastern offense returned the favor in the fifth, though, by posting a five-spot on the board. Following Andrew Labosky's lead-off walk, and a single off the bat of Sebastian Diaz, Woods laced a double down the right field line to close the gap back to 6-5. In the ensuing at-bat, Woods came around to score after a Kevin Suarez sacrifice bunt was thrown away. The miscues continued in the frame for the Tigers, and allowed the Sharks to regain an 8-6 cushion on another throwing error.
Knotted up at 8-8 in the top of the eighth, a booted ball put the Nova Southeastern back in front when Andrew Liberty slid in safely on a play at the plate. The Sharks just so happened to run into a hot West Alabama club on Sunday, though, as the Tigers picked up their second one-run victory of the day after beating Tampa 7-6 to stave off elimination.
Despite the defeat, Woods finished the ball game 2-for-4 with four RBI's and two runs scored.
Following its third consecutive trip to the postseason, NSU concludes the year with a record of 35-18.
