FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After having the initial game time pushed seven hours, and a 45-minute delay in the third inning, the Nova Southeastern baseball team finally overcame the weather and Rollins by earning a 4-3 win in the Sunshine State Conference series opener on Senior Day. Starting pitcher Jeremy Cook posted a solid outing that featured seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work, while Adam Smith finished 2-for-3 with two RBI in the effort.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: Nova Southeastern 4 (W: J. Cook, 7-0), Rollins 3 (L: Ja. Whitehead, 8-2)
Records: Nova Southeastern (32-12, 15-10 SSC), Rollins (32-13, 15-10 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  
Get Social: @NSU_Baseball on Instagram and Twitter
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TOP 3^rd | Rollins' Chase Achuff broke a scoreless tie in the third, lifting a two-run homer just over the outstretched glove of NSU leftfielder Adan Fernandez to give the Tars a 2-0 advantage.

BOT 3^rd | Fernandez would tag a double down the left-field line in the home half of the inning to put two runners in scoring position with just one out. The game would come to a screeching halt, though, due to lightning in the area. However, once play resumed, the Sharks needed just three pitches to tie the score at 2-2 following an RBI-bunt single by Daniel Irisarri and a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Smith.

BOT 5^th | After Cook worked around a bit of a jam in the top of the fifth, the NSU offense fed off the momentum in the bottom of the frame. Irisarri sparked the offense with a lead-off walk and soon moved to third on a Smith double in the right-center gap. Michael Avendano loaded the bases after being plunked before Alex Hernandez lifted a fly ball just deep enough to right to score Irisarri and hand the Sharks their first lead of the ball game.

BOT 7^th | Smith greeted Rollins relief pitcher Spencer Mangum by lacing an RBI-single through the left side of the infield to make it 4-2 in favor of the Sharks.

TOP 9^th | The Tars would make things interesting in the ninth, cutting the deficit in half on errant throw by the Sharks over to first base. With the tying run just 90 feet away and the go-ahead run 180 feet away, NSU closer Michael Dillon proved clutch, inducing a routine grounder to second to secure his 12^th save of the season.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Sharks collected 11 hits in the win, including three from shortstop Tyler Epstein.
• Eight of NSU's nine starters recorded at least one hit.
• Daniel Rivero and Matt Ornelas each produced scoreless outings out of the bullpen, as the two combined for three strikeouts in 1.2 innings on the mound.
• Dillon's 12 saves rank tops in the SSC.

UP NEXT
The Sharks and Tars will face off two more times on Sunday with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. For complete coverage, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_Baseball.