FLORENCE, Ala.  –  No. 12 Nova Southeastern fell victim to North Alabama in each of the first two games of the weekend series on Friday, suffering 9-0 and 8-6 defeats on the road.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score (Game One): North Alabama 9. Nova Southeastern 0
Score (Game Two): North Alabama 8, Nova Southeastern 6
Records: North Alabama (2-3), Nova Southeastern (3-3)
Location: Mike D. Lane Field | Florence, Ala.
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HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE):
In their first action away from home this season, the Sharks appeared all out of sorts in the first inning. Starting pitcher Devin Conn struggled with his command and was replaced prior to recording an out. In all, North Alabama climbed in front 7-0 in the home half of the first with just one hit to its credit.
 
Faced with a tall order, reliever Ryan Maya kept the Sharks afloat with an impressive performance out of the bullpen. After limiting the damage in the opening frame, the redshirt-sophomore went on to deal five innings of no-hit ball, while striking out three in the process.

However, the Nova Southeastern lineup that entered averaging nearly 14 runs per game was held in check by 2017 Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Year Tyler Joyner. The Sharks put runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings against the right-hander, but the North Alabama starter would respond by setting down 15 batters in a row until Brendan Cutting reached with two away in the seventh.

Down to its final out, Nova Southeastern stayed alive with back-to-back singles by Dylan Harris and Jake Anchia. Joyner would eventually force Cutting to roll over to first, though, in the ensuing at-bat to clinch the series-opening victory for the Lions.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO):
Nova Southeastern grabbed a bit of early momentum following a two-out rally in the top half of the first. Harris singled and later advanced to third on a failed pick-off. Anchia was then plunked to put runners on the corners before Ian Acevedo laced a single into right center for the game's opening run.

Sharks starter Derik Beauprez found himself in some trouble, though, in the bottom the second. A hit-by-pitch and a base knock moved runners to the corners with only one out when North Alabama catcher Ben Cooley evened up the score on a single into left. With the lead extended to 3-1 in the same inning, the Lions tacked on three more after Kyle Hubbuch launched a deep fly over the wall in right.

Trailing 7-2 in the fifth inning, Anchia continued his early-season power display with a two-run shot to left to pull the Sharks back within striking distance.

One inning later, the Nova Southeastern offense struck again after an Andrew Liberty double into right plated Nathan Chevalier. The first of four straight batters to reach base with two outs in the sixth, Liberty then came around to score on a Harris single through the left side. Now trailing just 7-6, the Sharks loaded up the bases, but any chance at a comeback went by the wayside when Lions reliever Channing Wall set Dominic Diana down on strikes.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Anchia's fifth-inning homer in game two marked his fourth in just 20 official plate appearances this season.

 STATS OF THE NIGHT:

• The Nova Southeastern bullpen combined to allow just two earned runs while striking out 11 in 12.2 innings of work on Friday.
• Harris tallied two hits apiece in both contests, giving him three multi-hit efforts over the Sharks last four ball games.
• Liberty earned his first start of the year in game two of the day, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI, two walks and two runs scored.

UP NEXT:
Weather permitting, NSU will look to salvage the series in the weekend finale set for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. For complete coverage of the action, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball or visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com.