TAMPA, Fla. – Although fifth-seeded Nova Southeastern (32-16) built up a notable lead through the latter innings of a pitcher's duel with fourth-seeded West Florida (37-16) in the opening round of NCAA South I Region action, the Argonauts came rushing back in the bottom of the ninth. UWF overcame a three-run NSU advantage to stun the Sharks, 5-4, winning on a walk-off wild pitch.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: West Florida –
5, Nova Southeastern –
4
Records: Nova Southeastern (32-16), West Florida (37-16)
Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
The teams traded scores early, but it was the Sharks that first touched the scoreboard. After senior third baseman
Ian Acevedo led off the game with a single, left fielder
Christian Demby slipped an RBI single past third baseman Joey Bend to gain the short-term lead. Bend got his chance to make up for it, batting in the tying run in the home half of the second.
Following the second-inning run, Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year
Duncan Pastore delivered one of the best outings of his season, tossing a total of 6.0 innings with just three total hits and one run. Pastore held UWF without a hit after the first out in the third, through to the end of his outing.
After five consecutive blank frames at the hands of UWF starter Andrew Vaccacio, the Sharks generated some momentum as he left the game on a warmup injury in the top of the seventh. Facing Daniel Floyd in relief, right fielder
Bryan Diaz led off the frame with a single and moved over on a
Mike Rojas sac bunt. Jeff Cyr smoked a high liner that escaped shortstop Matthew Jones' glove to take the lead as Diaz crossed the plate. Cyr went home as well, scoring on Acevedo's RBI double to give NSU the 3-1 advantage.
Building up the lead, the Sharks returned with another score in the eighth, as Demby collected his second RBI to capitalize on a
Garrett Wolforth lined leadoff single, expanding the lead to 4-1 with a single grounded through the right side.
In the meantime, reliever
JP Williams was keeping the Argonauts at bay after Pastore wrapped up his run. However, UWF's found ways to work against Williams and the Argonauts moved into position to seize control of the game in the final frame. After back-to-back singles created a UWF threat, Mike Farnell capitalized with a two-run single that sliced the NSU lead to a single run. After a pitching change to
Brock Minich, an errant throw on a sacrifice bunt knotted the score at 4-all. The Argos were able to cap off their improbable rally on a walk-off wild pitch from Minich, claiming the 5-4 comeback victory.
The Argonauts move on to face top-seeded Tampa in the 12:00 p.m. game, while the Sharks must work back through the bottom of the bracket, beginning with a 3:30 p.m. matchup against eighth-seeded Spring Hill.
STATS OF THE EVENING:
- Today's game opened the fifth consecutive NCAA postseason for the Sharks and the seventh overall under Greg Brown.
- The Sharks are now 3-2 in the overall series against the Argonaut, NSU is 2-1 against UWF in Regional competition.
- Pastore delivered a 6.0-inning three-hitter, striking out one with three walks and only allowing one run, leaving the game in line for a win at the time.
- Acevedo was very active in just his second game as the leadoff batter, pacing the Sharks with a 3-for-5 performance, scoring once and driving in one run.
- Demby went 2-for-4 with two RBI on a pair of singles.
- For NSU 8-of-9 batters reached base.
- The Sharks were held to one stolen base, but kept UWF to a pair. Both teams had a runner caught stealing.
DIRECT FROM COACH GREG BROWN
UP NEXT
The Sharks face Spring hill at 3:30 p.m. on Friday at the UT Baseball Field, beginning to work their way back through the lower bracket of the NCAA South I Regional.
