FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Catcher
Jake Anchia set the tone with a two-run blast in the first inning, while starting pitcher
Devin Conn handled much of the rest, as No. 8 Nova Southeastern upended No. 1 North Greenville by the final score of 6-2 in the series opener Friday night at the NSU Baseball Complex. Conn tallied his sixth double-digit strikeout effort of the season, finishing with 13 K's in his seven innings on the mound, to lead the Sharks to their second straight victory over a top-ranked opponent.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Nova Southeastern 6, North Greenville 2
Records: Nova Southeastern (31-12), North Greenville (43-7)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Conn made it apparent right away in the top of the first that he had his plus stuff on Friday. The right-hander set the side down on strikes before the offense quickly rewarded him with an early 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the frame. After
Andrew Liberty reached on an error to extend the inning, Anchia jumped all over the 1-0 offering from North Greenville starter Tucker Burgess, depositing the belt-high pitch deep over the wall in left center for his 18
th homer of the season.
Just an inning later, the offense continued its hot start when
Christian Demby laced a one-out double off the wall in center.
Nathan Chevalier would follow in the ensuing at-bat with a double of his own, extending the advantage to 3-0.
Still in front by the same margin, the Crusaders threatened in the top of the fourth, putting the first two runners aboard following consecutive singles. However, Conn would keep the shutout intact by inducing a fly out to center to go along with two more strikeouts.
His one mistake of the evening came in the top of the fifth when North Greenville's Utah Jones connected on an opposite-field homer to narrow the margin to 5-2. Just two base runners would reach the rest of the way, though, for the Crusaders as reliever
Michael Gizzi retired all six batters he faced to seal the impressive win.
STATS OF THE NIGHT:
- Demby finished 2-for-4 in the effort, notching an RBI-single in the seventh to score Samuel Duran.
- The 6-7-8 hitters in the North Greenville lineup combined to go 0-for-12 at the plate with 11 strikeouts.
- Nova Southeastern handed Burgess just his second loss of the season after entering Friday with a record of 14-1.
- The Sharks failed to commit an error on Friday, marking the seventh that's happened this season.
UP NEXT:
The Sharks will honor their 10 seniors prior to the start of Saturday's doubleheader action. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. ET. For complete coverage of the action, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball or visit the
schedule page on NSUSharks.com.
