FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Once again sparked by a rally in the third inning and solid pitching, the Nova Southeastern Baseball team improved to 2-0 on the season with an 8-5 victory over the Ichabods of Washburn on Friday evening from the NSU Baseball Complex. The Sharks hosted the first "Deep Blue Friday," presented by Hollywood Kia.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: Nova Southeastern 2-0, Washburn 0-1
Score: Nova Southeastern 8, Washburn 5
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | NSU Baseball Complex
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Daniel Rivero got the start for NSU for the first "Deep Blue Friday" presented by Hollywood Kia of the regular season. Rivero worked around a lead-off walk and added a strikeout in his first inning of work.
Nova Southeastern manufactured their first run of the contest in the bottom of the second inning, as
Daniel Irisarri worked a lead-off walk and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base.
Alejandro Macario came through in the clutch with a two-out RBI single to left field, driving in Irisarri, giving NSU a 1-0 lead.
The Ichabods got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, tying the game 1-1 with a sacrifice fly. NSU looked to continue their third inning success for the second straight night and began the frame with back-to-back walks by
Tyler Epstein and
Michael Avendano.
Duncan Pastore loaded the bases for
Adan Fernandez following a hit-by-pitch. Fernandez promptly singled, driving in two runs, and put the Sharks back in front, 3-1. The two-run single chased the Washburn starting pitcher from the game. The newly entered relief pitcher didn't deter the Sharks, as Irisarri scored Pastore with a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 4-1.
Rivero threw a combined 12 pitches in the fourth and fifth innings, keeping the momentum on the Sharks side. After allowing the first two hitters of the sixth inning reach base, Rivero recorded a fly out before Head Coach
Laz Gutierrez turned to Carlos
Rey in relief. The lefty stranded runners on first and third with back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.
NSU added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning,
Alex Hernandez came home on a dropped third strike and Avendano followed with an RBI single, scoring
Alejandro Macario, pushing the Nova Southeastern advantage to 6-1.
Rey added two more strikeouts in the top of the seventh, putting his total at four for the game.
Matt Ornelas entered into the contest for the Sharks in the top of the eighth inning. Washburn rallied in the inning, plating four runs, before
Michael Dillon was called out of the bullpen for NSU. Dillion ended the frame with a strikeout, preserving a 6-5 lead for Nova Southeastern.
Pastore added an insurance run for the Sharks in the bottom of the eighth, driving in
Bryce Hazzard with an RBI double to left field. Irisarri gave NSU an 8-5 lead with an RBI single, plating Pastore.
Dillon remained on the mound for Nova Southeastern, earning his first save of the season, and sealing the Sharks 8-5 victory over Washburn.
UPCOMING
Nova Southeastern concludes its opening weekend with a matinee match-up against the Wheeling Cardinals on Sat., Feb. 5. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
