FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern Sharks earned their 20th win of the 2022 season, defeating Lynn 6-3 to open the Sunshine State Conference series on Friday night from the NSU Baseball Complex. Carlos Rey was lights out from the bullpen, striking out eight across 3.1 innings of work to earn his second win of the season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: Nova Southeastern 20-5, 5-5 SSC; Lynn 18-11, 6-7 SSC
Score: Nova Southeastern 6, Lynn 3
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | NSU Baseball Complex
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Lynn opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, plating both with two outs in the inning after recording back-to-back hits. In the bottom of the second inning, Sanders started a streak of five consecutive Shark batters reaching base, recording a single with one out. Gabriel Rivera worked a walk to load the bases for Alex Hernandez and the Sharks catcher drove in two with a single to left field, tying the game at 2-2. Alejandro Macario gave NSU their first lead, capping the frame with an RBI single to left field.
Rivero settled in after the bumpy first frame, keeping the Fighting Knights for three consecutive innings. In the fifth, Rivero ran into some trouble in the fifth, allowing the run before NSU went to the bullpen with runners on second and third in a tie game. Nova Southeastern Head Coach Laz Gutierrez called upon Carlos Rey; the lefty struck out the first batter he faced to escape the jam and keep the score tied 3-3.
In the bottom of the inning, Fernandez put himself in scoring position with a one-out double off the left field fence. Irisarri put NSU back in the lead with an RBI single. Rey was sensational out of the bullpen for the Sharks, striking out eight across 3.1 innings pitched – marking his highest total in an outing this season.
Nova Southeastern plated a pair of runs in the bottom of eighth inning, pushing the Sharks advantage to 6-3 over Lynn. Rey stayed in the game for the ninth, but after allowing back-to-back base runners was relieved by Michael Dillon. Dillon quickly dispatched the Lynn hitters, earning his fifth save of the campaign and sealing the series opening win for NSU.
STATS OF THE NIGHT
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Rey struck out a season-high 8 in 3.1 innings of work, bringing his total to 36 in 18.1 innings pitched.
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Adam Frank extended his hitting streak to 20 games, going 1-5 with a single.
UPCOMING
NSU continues its series against Lynn on Saturday, March 26, from the NSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.