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Bryan Diaz 2020
©JC Ridley
4
Tusculum TU 0-1
5
Winner Nova Southeastern NSUB 1-1
Tusculum TU
0-1
4
Final
5
Nova Southeastern NSUB
1-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tusculum TU 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 9 2
Nova Southeastern NSUB 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 5 11 1

W: Bove, Jacob (1-0) L: C. Linton (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

No. 16 Sharks Walk Off Tusculum for Gutierrez’s First Win as Head Coach

Bryan Diaz drives in Tyler Epstein with walk-off single

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Rebounding from 15 runs allowed in a season-opening loss to No. 7 North Greenville, the No. 16 Nova Southeastern baseball team came from behind to defeat the Tusculum Pioneers in thrilling fashion, 5-4, on Saturday evening. A ninth-inning rally culminated with right fielder Bryan Diaz's walk-off single off the glove of the right fielder, scoring freshman Tyler Epstein for the first victory under head coach Laz Gutierrez.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Nova Southeastern – 5, Tusculum 4
Records:  Nova Southeastern (1-1), Tusculum (0-1)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter - @NSU_Baseball | Instagram - @NSU_Baseball | Facebook - /NSUSharksAthletics

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Much like the previous game, the Sharks faced a deficit from the jump. This time, the Pioneers started with a leadoff single by Daulton Martin, who was driven in by a double to right field, despite what appeared to be a great relay throw to the plate. Jaden Steagall came through for TU with a two-out RBI single to put a second run on the board.
 
After both teams went down in order for the next inning-and-a-half, the Pioneers added to their lead with another two-out RBI base hit from Steagall. The Sharks started their comeback in the bottom half, though, when Brandon Chinea reached on an infield single to third and advanced to second base when the throw reached the fence behind first base. Another error allowed Alex Hernandez to get on base, and Nathan Chevalier scored Chinea with a double off the right field wall. Back-to-back walks by Tyler Epstein and Duncan Pastore brought Hernandez in, but after a pitching change with the bases loaded and nobody out, Tusculum reliever Mitch McCain got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to hold the 3-2 lead.
 
Stephen Schissler was the first reliever out of the pen for the Sharks in the fifth inning, and Martin greeted him with a single and stolen base, then scored on a Brandon Trammell double for the second time. However, the Sharks got a clutch line-drive double play to escape further damage.
 
After being unable to score Epstein following a one-out triple, the Sharks nearly missed on a golden scoring chance with a pair of singles to start off the next inning, but a delayed double steal worked to perfection, scoring Adan Fernandez, and Hernandez drove in Bryan Diaz with a single to left-center to tie the game at 4-all.
 
Five scoreless half-innings ensued heading into the bottom of the ninth. Epstein led off with a single to right field, and Pastore drove one deep to center, but Epstein slipped rounding second, resulting in a baserunning miscue and the two players converging on third - Pastore was tagged trying to retreat back to second. Andrew Labosky was intentionally walked, setting up the potential of a double play opportunity with Fernandez at the dish, but Labosky stole second on a great dirtball read, and Fernandez reached when Tusculum returned the favor of the Sharks' previous blunder by losing a high pop up in the lights. With all the ducks on the pond, Bryan Diaz battled to a 2-2 count, fouling off a few pitches, before finally finishing it off with the walk-off on the high-arching oufield shot.

For the Sharks, Jacob Bove (1-0) earned the win after a solid 1.2-inning relief debut, allowing no runs and no hits, while striking out one. Facing five batters and retiring just one, Carter Linton (0-1) takes the loss for Tusculum.

STATS OF THE NIGHT:
  • The Sharks improve to 7-1 in the all-time season series.
  • Four players led the Sharks with two hits apiece: Epstein, Pastore, Fernandez and Diaz.
  • Pastore has begun the season with his second straight multi-hit performance, recording a double in each game, the first time in his career with doubles in back-to-back games.
  • Fernandez opens his NSU career with a pair of multi-hit games, as well.
  • In just his second collegiate appearance, Tyler Epstein came off the bench in the third inning with two big hits, including a triple, and the game-winning run.
  • Nathan Campbell struck out six batters in four innings of work, striking out the side in the second inning. He tied the second-best strikeout total of his career and the most since his complete game two-hitter against Florida Tech on March 16, 2019.
  • Sacramento City College transfers Lucas Reid and Bove combined for five strikeouts in 3.2 hitless innings to lock down the bullpen at the end of the game. retired all five batters he faced after entering into an eighth-inning jam with a runner on second and one out.
 
UP NEXT
The Sharks will wrap up their opening weekend with a matchup against local former conference foe St. Thomas, the No. 2 nationally-ranked team in the NAIA polls. The Bobcats began their season with a 9-3 win over crosstown rival Florida Memorial, before a Friday night 5-3 loss at Lynn. Their Saturday afternoon meeting with Palm Beach Atlantic was cancelled due to the same weather problems that delayed the Sharks and Pioneers.
 
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