FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern Sharks Baseball improved to 3-0 with a 9-6 victory over Wheeling on Saturday afternoon from the NSU Baseball Complex. Duncan Pastore blasted a go-ahead three-run home run in the fourth inning and the Sharks bullpen hung on to seal the win.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Records: Nova Southeastern 3-0, Wheeling 0-3
Score: Nova Southeastern 9, Washburn 6
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | NSU Baseball Complex
Get Social: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_Baseball

HOW IT HAPPENED
Wheeling got on the board in the first inning, scoring the game's first run on a sacrifice fly. Tyler Epstein got the bottom half of the inning started with a bang, tripling to center-field and immediately putting himself in scoring position for Nik Sanders. Sanders promptly followed Epstein's triple with a double of his own to tie the game 1-1. Later in the first inning, Daniel Irisarri lined a single to right-center field, scoring Duncan Pastore, as the Sharks took a 2-1 lead.

Sharks starting pitcher Jeremy Cook settled into the game in the second inning, striking out two and preserving the Sharks 2-1 advantage. WU reclaimed the lead in the top of the third inning with a two-run home run. NSU loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third inning, looking to continue their rallies that had become a trend in the early parts of the season; however, the Sharks were unable to capitalize, and still trailed 3-2 after three innings.

Wheeling extended their lead to 4-2 with an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. Adam Smith walked, which was followed by a single from Epstein and a hit-by-pitch for Sanders, loading the bases for Pastore. NSU came within a run following a balk by the Cardinals, and maintained two runners in scoring position for their designated hitter. Pastore blasted his second home run of the weekend, as the Sharks reclaimed a 6-4 advantage.
Cooper Omans relieved Cook in the top of the fifth inning and the Cardinals plated their fifth run of the contest with a sacrifice fly.

After reaching on a walk, Epstein manufactured a run for NSU, stealing both second and third, as the shortstop scored on a Sharks sacrifice fly from pinch-hitter Adam Frank. Both the Cardinals and the Sharks traded runs in the bottom of the seventh, as NSU led 8-6 through seven innings of play.

Conor Miller was called upon in relief for Nova Southeastern in the top of the eighth and maintained the Sharks lead.

Pastore added a late insurance run for Nova Southeastern, coming home on a wild pitch to put the score at 9-6. Stephen Schissler entered from the bullpen to close the game for Nova Southeastern and recorded his first save of the season.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

• Duncan Pastore and Tyler Epstein both tallied two stolen bases a piece for NSU, helping generate offense for the Sharks.
• Pastore finished the weekend with an incredible batting average of 0.800, a 2.567, three doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs, and eight runs.

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.