FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  – No. 20 Nova Southeastern tagged Palm Beach Atlantic ace Mikhail Cazenave for five runs in the opening three innings before tacking on some insurance late en route to a 7-3 victory over the Sailfish Friday night at the NSU Baseball Complex. Ian Acevedo led a balanced offensive attack with a 3-for-3 effort at the dish, including a pair of RBI and runs scored, while starter Devin Conn fanned nine as the Sharks took a big step forward in the Sunshine State Conference series opener.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Nova Southeastern 7, Palm Beach Atlantic 3
Records: Nova Southeastern (15-9, 7-3 SSC), Palm Beach Atlantic (18-9, 7-3 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Palm Beach Atlantic grabbed the early momentum with a two-out, RBI-double to jump in front 1-0 in the top of the second inning. The Nova Southeastern offense soon found its rhythm, though, against Cazenave, who entered the evening with a 7-2 record to go along with an impressive 1.79 earned run average. Following a lead-off single by Jake Anchia in the home half of the second, Acevedo knotted things up with a run-scoring triple off the wall in straight-away center. Two batters later, Nathan Chevalier collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Sharks their first lead of the night, one they wouldn't relinquish.
 
The Nova Southeastern offensive attack appeared to be contagious as Dylan Harris sparked another rally with a lead-off single to open the third. Andrew Liberty then reached on a single into left, the first of four consecutive knocks for the Sharks. With two runners aboard and one out, Anchia lifted a double into the gap in right center to extend the advantage to 3-1. The very next at-bat, it was Acevedo's turn once again, driving in Liberty with a rope that deflected off the Palm Beach Atlantic second baseman. Christian Demby then joined in on the fun, delivering a first-pitch single into left to cap a momentous, three-run third.
 
The Sailfish would cut the margin in half in the top of the fifth on a two-run blast off the bat of Carlos Lara. However, Nova Southeastern would surrender just two hits the rest of the way, with Ryan Maya and Joe Strzelecki securing the win for Conn with a combined three scoreless innings out of the bullpen.  

STATS OF THE NIGHT:

• The six earned runs scored on Cazenave were the most allowed by the PBA right-hander this season.
• Eight players tallied at least one hit for the Sharks in the win, including multi-hit games by Acevedo, Anchia and Liberty.
• Remarkably, Conn's nine strikeouts were the fewest among his four home starts this year.
• With his third-inning single, Harris now sits only four hits shy from 300 in his career.
   

UP NEXT:
The Sharks will look to clinch the series Saturday afternoon in game two with the Sailfish. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET. For complete coverage of the action, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball or visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com.