FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After taking an early lead on Friday night at the NSU Baseball Complex, the No. 21 Nova Southeastern baseball team (22-12, 11-8 SSC) fought off two rallies by Saint Leo (16-16, 5-8 SSC). Clutch eighth-inning hitting by
Ian Acevedo and
Christian Demby gave the Sharks leverage, while the defense sent seven consecutive SLU batters packing to close the door on the 6-4 series-opening win.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Nova Southeastern –
6, Saint Leo –
4,
Records: Nova Southeastern (22-12, 11-8 SSC), Saint Leo (16-16, 5-8 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Leading off with a walk, right fielder
Duncan Pastore made the most of the opportunities presented in the first inning, scoring from third on a wild pitch from Ruddy Gomez. From there, Friday's opener slipped into a pitcher's duel between Gomez and
Devin Meyer into the middle innings, when the next score was
Mike Rojas stealing home for a 2-0 NSU lead in the bottom of the fifth.
However, after NSU's defense shut down two key SLU opportunities with Lions runners in scoring position, a big sixth-inning swing by Jacob Reimold changed the pace of the game, as the SLU third baseman belted a three-run homer to left center for a one-run Lions lead.
The Sharks provided a resounding response to the Lions' challenge, as third baseman
Ian Acevedo smacked a one-out double into the left center alley and left fielder
Christian Demby followed with a towering two-run homer to dead center to regain the lead at 4-3.
But the pendulum swung right back to center in the top of the seventh, as Derek Gibree scored the tie run from second on Jared Morello's hot shot RBI single through the left side – bringing the scoreboard to 4-4.
Squaring up against the late tie and high-velocity pitching from reliever Joey Antonopoulos,
Garrett Wolforth got the Sharks moving with a one-out single pulled into the four-hole – Wolforth then went first-to-third on a failed pickoff. Acevedo saw his shot on a 75 mph slider and dropped a Texas-Leaguer in no-man's land between four rushing fielders, reaching second and sending Wolforth to the plate for the go-ahead run. Demby added his second clutch RBI, as Acevedo scored from second on his single to left field, the ball coming loose as Acevedo slid under the tag at the plate for the insurance run.
Closing his third inning of relief in style,
JP Williams downed the Lions in order in the ninth to secure the 6-4 series-opening victory and move his record to 3-1 on the year - closing out on back-to-back SLU strikeouts.
STATS OF THE NIGHT:
- The Sharks lead the series with SLU 39-18 overall.
- Meyer cruised to five scoreless innings against the Lions, but Reimold's sixth-inning home run ended his outing at 6.0 innings, six hits, three runs, one walk and five strikeouts.
- Although Meyer remained in line for the win after the bottom of the sixth, Morello's RBI single moved the decision to reliever JP Williams.
- Williams went 3.0 innings with one hit, one run, no walks and four strikeouts.
- The heart of the NSU order – Wolforth, Acevedo and Demby – hit 7-for-12 (.583) on the night, with Demby batting 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run. Wolforth and Acevedo both went 2-for-4 with Acevedo adding an RBI and two runs, while Wolforth scored on the game-winner.
- Demby's home run was his sixth of the year and first since February 16.
FROM COACH GREG BROWN
UP NEXT:
The Sharks' conference series with Saint Leo continues into a Saturday doubleheader at the NSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. For complete coverage of the action, follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_Baseball or visit the
schedule page on NSUSharks.com.
