TAMPA, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern (34-17) baseball team saw a highly-successful 2019 season come to an end on Saturday at the UT Baseball Field, laying down the type of fight that personified the season. Appearing in their first South Region Final since the 2016 season, the Sharks squared up and battled with top-seeded Tampa (39-14) for every pitch and every ball, with the game ending in a 6-5 loss in the 12th inning after
Christian Demby's eighth-inning homer dragged the game to a tie.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Tampa –
6, Nova Southeastern –
5 (
12 Innings)
Records: Nova Southeastern (34-17), Tampa (39-14)
Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Sharks jumped out early on the Spartans, but UT starter Mason Duke managed to settle down NSU after the opening frame saw the first three NSU batters reach base and catcher
Garrett Wolforth send
Duncan Pastore home on an RBI single into right field. NSU doubled the effort on an
Ian Acevedo sacrifice fly that kept the Sharks ahead 2-0 into the top of the fourth.
However, after a smooth start for freshman
Nathan Campbell, the Spartans loaded the bases in the fourth and worked out three runs via an RBI hit batsman for Nick Derr, a Danny Blair RBI single and Sam Freitas scoring the go-ahead run from third on a wild pitch from reliever
Gil Torres.
Although Torres kept the Spartans down for two innings, the Sharks had to delve back into the bullpen staff in the seventh. A Danny Sirven RBI single and Stevie Mangrum RBI double saw Tampa's lead to expand to 5-2 before
JP Williams secured the final two outs to end the threat.
Duke and reliever Tyler Beck kept the Sharks checked for seven consecutive innings, but a single big swing with two outs in the eighth changed the entire complexion of the game. With
Andrew Labosky and Wolforth aboard, left fielder Demby lifted a three-run, game-tying shot beyond the wall in right center, resurrecting the Sharks chances and sending the scoreboard to 5-5.
However, that spark only got the Sharks back in the game, as Williams knocked down the necessary Spartans to carry the game into extra innings for the beginnings of a pitcher's duel in extas. Tossing five innings to carry the game into the 12th, Beck did the work for the Spartans, fending off Sharks runners in the 11th and 12th. In the top of the 12th, Tampa was able to edge ahead for what would be the final time, as Freitas crossed the plate on an NSU fielding error for the 6-5 advantage.
The Sharks closed out their season at 34-17 in their first South Region Final since the 2016 season, coming up 2-2 on the weekend.
STATS OF THE DAY:
- For NSU, 13 seniors saw their final game in Sharks uniform.
- The Sharks are 22-45 all-time against the Spartans.
- The Sharks are 1-2 facing off in Regionals with Tampa.
- The rookie, Campbell tossed 3.2 innings with four hits and three runs, giving two walks with one strikeout.
- Williams was the most effective reliever for the Sharks, going 3.0 innings with three hits and no runs, giving one walk with two key strikeouts.
- Wolforth was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI – Wolforth also went .333 (5-for-15) in the four games at the South Regional, scoring five times with four RBI.
- Demby went 1-for-5 with that one being crucial – the three-run homer to knot the game and set the table for extra innings. Demby batted .389 in the Regional overall, hitting two home runs and accounting for nine RBI and three runs.
- In the four-game NCAA Regional, Acevedo led the Sharks with a .400 average (6-for-15).
- After entering the game late in center field, Nathan Chevalier went 2-for-2.
- This was only the second extra innings game of the year for NSU and the Sharks end up at 1-1 in extras.
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM COACH GREG BROWN
FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THE 2019 NSU SENIORS
