WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – An early pitcher's duel changed direction quickly in favor of Palm Beach Atlantic (15-13, 5-7 SSC) during Sunday's series finale at J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park, as the Sailfish used middle-inning scoring to defeat the No. 13 Nova Southeastern baseball team (19-9, 9-6 SSC). Key PBA hitting in the fifth and sixth innings pushed the game toward the Sailfish, while an eighth-inning outburst put the game out of reach.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Palm Beach Atlantic –
14, Nova Southeastern –
1
Records: Palm Beach Atlantic (15-13, 5-7 SSC), Nova Southeastern (19-9, 9-6 SSC)
Location: J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park | West Palm Beach, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Although Sunday's finale went four full innings of pitcher's duel gridlock between
Nik Sanders and Lance Fry. However, in the bottom of the fifth, one key swing allowed the Sailfish to capitalize on their first runners in scoring position of the game – Derek Schwimer accounted for four runs on a three-run triple and then scored on a wild pitch – ending the afternoon for Sanders.
In the bottom of the sixth, Danny Tufariello added the second key swing, plating two more runs on an RBI single up the middle for a 6-0 advantage – a lead the day's limited NSU offense was unable to overcome.
Holding the Sharks to just a pair of hits late into the finale, the Sailfish caught fire in the eighth, as PBA pushed 13 batters through the box and tacked up eight runs in the frame for a 14-0 lead.
The Sharks avoided suffering only their second shutout of the season courtesy of a ninth-inning, career-first solo home run blast by sophomore pinch hitter
Alex Hernandez.
STATS OF THE DAY:
- The Sharks hold a 68-26 lead in the overall series between these programs, dating back to the Sun Conference.
- The loss hands the Sharks only their second conference loss of the season.
- Sanders (1-1) suffers the loss, going 4.2 innings with four earned runs on three hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
- Despite the final score, the Sharks only allowed a single extra base hit by PBA in the game.
- The Sailfish outpaced the Sharks 9-for-11 to 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
- Center fielder Nathan Chevalier was 2-for-2 on the day, logging one walk.
UP NEXT:
The Sharks continue on the road with a non-conference one-off at Barry on Tuesday – a 6:00 p.m. first pitch is set at Feinbloom Field. For complete coverage of the action, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball or visit the
schedule page on NSUSharks.com.