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Conn
3
Winner Tampa UTB 11-2
2
Nova Southeastern NSUB 6-5
Winner
Tampa UTB
11-2
3
Final
2
Nova Southeastern NSUB
6-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Tampa UTB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 3 7 1
Nova Southeastern NSUB 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 1

W: Mark Moclair (2-1) L: Strzelecki, Joe (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Extra-Inning Defeat Puts Damper on Conn’s 15-K Gem

Sharks drop game one of series to Tampa, 3-2 in 12 innings

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Devin Conn was as dominant on the mound as anyone in a Nova Southeastern uniform has been in years. In fact, the right-hander's 15 strikeouts were the most recorded by a Sharks' pitcher since the program joined the NCAA and most overall since way back in 1999. A ninth-inning rally by Tampa, though, forced extra innings before the Spartans scraped across the eventual go-ahead run in the 12th to stun the Sharks 3-2 in Friday's series opener.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Tampa 3, Nova Southeastern 2 (12 Innings)
Records: Tampa (11-2, 4-0 SSC), Nova Southeastern (6-5, 3-1 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter - @NSU_Baseball | Instagram - @NSU_Baseball | Facebook - /NSUSharksAthletics

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The aces for both sides made it apparent that runs were going to be at a premium Friday night. Through the opening 2.5 innings, Conn and reigning Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year David Lebron had combined for nine strikeouts. However, still hitless with one out in the bottom of the third, Nova Southeastern flashed some offense when shortstop Nicholas Gallo erased the shutout with a no-doubt, solo home run on the first pitch he saw from Lebron.

With the one-run lead in hand, Conn continued to mow down the Spartans. The sophomore retired the side in order in the fourth, struck out the side in the fifth and added another punch-out to his credit following a harmless two-out walk in the sixth. Searching for more offensive production, the Sharks used the long ball yet again in the home half of the sixth to add to their advantage. Leading off the frame, first baseman Dylan Harris belted the 3-2 offering from Lebron over the wall in left for his first homer as a Shark.

Rather than fatigue as the game wore on, Conn's stuff only became sharper. Following his strikeout to end the sixth, he struck out the side in both the seventh and eighth innings, retiring an incredible seven straight batters all via strikeout.

The ball began bouncing in favor of the Spartans, though, to open the ninth. An infield hit and a seeing-eye single put the first two runners aboard before an ensuing walk ended the night for Conn. Joe Strzelecki would enter out of the bullpen for the Sharks and keep the lead intact with two outs. However, after trimming the lead to 2-1 on an RBI-groundout, Tampa squeezed another runner across on a wild pitch to stay alive and force extras. 

Nova Southeastern pieced together scoring chances by putting a pair of runners on base in each of the 10th and 11th innings. Yet, the strikeout trend continued and allowed the Spartans just enough of an opportunity to make the Sharks pay.

Following a lead-off double in the top of the 12th, a sacrifice bunt then moved Nick DeTringo to third with only one out. That's when Tampa head coach Joe Urso turned to pinch-hitter Drew Burkhart, who, with the infield playing in, sprayed a ball through the right side for the eventual game-winning RBI.

UP NEXT:
NSU and Tampa will square off in doubleheader action beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. For complete coverage of the action, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball or visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com.
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