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Mike Rojas vs. Tusculum (2019)
5
Tusculum TU 1-1
17
Winner Nova Southeastern NSUB 1-0
Tusculum TU
1-1
5
Final
17
Nova Southeastern NSUB
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tusculum TU 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 11 3
Nova Southeastern NSUB 0 0 0 5 12 0 0 0 X 17 16 1

W: Torres, Gil (1-0) L: Andrew Wilis (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Sharks Break Out the Bats in Dominating 17-5 Season Opener with Tusculum

NSU Scored 12 runs on 10 hits in the fifth after rallying from down 5-0

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team (1-0) opened coach Greg Brown's ninth season by responding to a tense deficit with a phenomenal hitting display in the season opener against Tusculum (1-1). The Sharks rallied past a five-run Pioneers advantage with 17 runs stretch across two frames to open the year with a big victory at the NSU Baseball Complex. When the dust settled, the Sharks produced the largest opening-day scoring effort since 1995.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Nova Southeastern - 17, Tusculum - 5
Records: Nova Southeastern (1-0), Tusculum (1-1)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter - @NSU_Baseball | Instagram - @NSU_Baseball | Facebook - /NSUSharksAthletics

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Facing a growing 5-0 deficit into the middle innings of Friday's season opener, the Sharks did anything but fold against the Tusculum Pioneers, using a single spark to ignite a blaze. Held to just two hits into the fourth inning, a Tusculum error got the Sharks under way, as Nathan Chevalier raced home from third on the errant throw for the first score of the year. Samuel Duran and Andrew Labosky followed with RBI to close out TU starter Chase McCallister and senior transfer first baseman Mike Rojas capped the push with a game tying two-run bomb to the left field scoreboard – knotting the game up at 5-5.
 
Setting the stage, senior right-hander Gil Torres (1-0) stepped in for starter Matt Ornelas after a challenging top to the fourth frame, setting down the key final out with more runners in scoring position – keeping the Pioneers down long enough for the Sharks offense to catch fire and setting himself up for the win.
 
With Tusculum's offense checked and MLB Sharks alum Mike Fiers (Oakland Athletics) making an alma mater appearance before Spring Training, NSU settled into its approach and senior third baseman Ian Acevedo commanded attention to get a huge inning under way. Acevedo left no doubt on contact with Andrew Willis' 1-1 pitch, belting a three-run shot high over the left field fence for the Sharks first lead of the season at 8-5. What would unfold over the 40-minute frame was a Sharks hitting clinic, as 18 NSU batters came to the plate, tacking 10 hits and 12 runs onto the scoreboard. Making his NSU debut, Rojas wowed with another home run, this time a moon shot to left center and for three runs to press the Sharks into double-figures. Also debuting, senior catcher Garrett Wolforth added a two-run double and Labosky closed the inning with a two-run line drive to outer right field, extending the lead to 17-5.
 
Blanking Tusculum for the remaining five innings, Torres teamed with freshman left-hander Nathan Campbell and senior righty Gabe Rodriguez to generate seven strikeouts. Four fanned batters belonged to Campbell, allowing two hits with no walks in his first collegiate appearance.


STATS OF THE NIGHT:
  • The 17 runs was the most scored by NSU in the series between these teams and the most runs scored on opening day since Feb. 4, 1995 (26-17 at Florida Southern).
  • The 12 fifth-inning runs was the most scored by NSU since March 10, 2015 (13, American International).
  • In his NSU debut, Rojas went 2-for-4 for five RBI; all via home run.
  • Labosky produced a 4-for-4 night, accounting for four RBI and two runs, logging three singles and a double.
  • Acevedo went 2-for-4 with three runs via dinger, but also scored twice more.
  • With 19 position players making a plate appearance, all NSU position players appeared in the game.
  • The Sharks only issued three walks and struck out 10.
  • The rookie southpaw, Campbell tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in his first relief outing.
FROM COACH GREG BROWN:
  • "It was a great game for the whole club," Brown said. "I think the thing that was critical was getting Gil in the game, and he came in and struck out the batter out with runners on second and third. I mean, they could have jumped out to a 7-0 lead on us right there easy. I thought that changed the whole momentum."
UP NEXT:
The Sharks get back to the diamond quickly here on opening weekend, returning to the NSU Baseball Complex on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. to face another South Atlantic Conference team, Catawba. The Indians defeated Lynn in 10 innings on Friday in Miami Shores. 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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