MELBOURNE, Fla. – No. 18 Nova Southeastern let a sixth-inning lead slip away Friday night before falling 7-5 on the road at Florida Tech in its return to Sunshine State Conference play. Freshman
Jeffrey Cyr recorded two RBI's, while three others tallied two hits apiece, yet the Sharks were unable to overcome four errors in the effort.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Florida Tech 7. Nova Southeastern 5
Records: Florida Tech (10-13, 2-5 SSC), Nova Southeastern (11-8, 4-3 SSC)
Location: Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field | Melbourne, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE):
The Sharks staked the Panthers to an early 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first following a costly fielding error with two outs and the bases loaded.
Jake Anchia would help cut the deficit in half in the third thanks to an RBI-single through the left side of the infield. However, another fielding miscue in the home half allowed Florida Tech to quickly add that run back and remain on top 3-1.
Still trailing by the same score in the sixth, the Sharks found some momentum and pulled back to within one when
Nathan Chevalier roped a single down the left-field line to plate
Samuel Duran. In the ensuing at-bat, Cyr found a hole through the right side, giving Nova Southeastern its first lead of the ball game at 4-3.
After surrendering a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth,
Ian Acevedo knotted things up at 5-5 on a timely, two-out RBI-single. As was the case throughout the night, though, Nova Southeastern was unable to follow up with a shutdown inning and watched Florida Tech grasp control once again on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh. The Panthers would alter tack on insurance with an unearned run in the eighth before setting down the Sharks in order in the ninth to clinch the series opener.
STATS OF THE NIGHT:
- Starter Devin Conn allowed five hits in six innings of work, while striking out nine.
- Reliever Ryan Maya allowed his first earned run of the season in the seventh.
- In his return to the lineup, Andrew Liberty collected two hits to go along with a run scored.
UP NEXT:
Both sides will return to action on Saturday in game one of an afternoon doubleheader set to begin at noon. For complete coverage of the action, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball or visit the
schedule page on NSUSharks.com.