FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In the final two home games of the regular season, the Nova Southeastern baseball team fell by identical 7-6 scores Sunday, dropping the Sunshine State Conference series to Rollins. The pair of defeats now put the Sharks at 32-14 overall on the year and 15-12 in SSC play.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: Rollins 7 (W: T. Stone-Frisina, 6-1), Nova Southeastern 6 (L: M. Kavanaugh, 3-4), (S: A. Long, 6)
Records: Rollins (33-13, 16-10 SSC), Nova Southeastern (32-13, 15-11 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: @NSU_Baseball on Instagram and Twitter
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Sharks quickly dug themselves into a 4-0 hole in the opening two innings, yet drew back even in the bottom of the third after
Adan Fernandez connected on a two-run home run – his 10
th of the season.
Tyler Epstein reached on a one-out single in the fourth, and advanced all the way to third before
Duncan Pastore lined a base hit back up the middle to give NSU its first lead of the afternoon at 5-4.
Taking over for starter
Carlos Rey in the fifth, Matthew Kavanaugh carved up the Tars for five strikeouts in three no-hit innings to preserve the one-run edge heading into the eighth. However, the lefty was greeted by Rollins' Cameron Meehan in the top of the frame, as the Tars knotted the score on a solo homer to left center.
The long ball was a sign of things to come for the Sharks as the NSU defense then kicked the ball around for consecutive errors to allow Rollins to retake the lead.
Down 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth, NSU's
Gabriel Rivera lifted a no-doubter to left to cut the deficit in half. However, the Sharks would fail to get any closer after being set down in order in the final inning.
INSIDE THE STATS:
- Fernandez is the first NSU player to reach double-digit home runs this season.
- The Sharks committed four errors, leading to four unearned runs in the loss.
- Fernandez, Pastore, Rivera and Bryce Hazzard each notched two hits apiece.
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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: Rollins 7 (W: S. Swift, 2-0), Nova Southeastern 6 (L: S. Schissler, 0-3), (S: C. Achuff, 6)
Records: Rollins (34-13, 17-10 SSC), Nova Southeastern (32-14, 15-12 SSC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
NSU trailed 3-1 in the fifth before two straight singles by
Adam Frank and Pastore brought some life to the Sharks and forced Rollins to yank its starting pitcher. With runners on the corners and two away, Frank scored on a wild pitch to make it a 3-2 ball game. Two pitches later,
Daniel Irisarri roped a 3-2 fastball into center to score Pastore and tie the contest at 3-3.
Not done yet, Irisarri stole second before
Adam Smith belted a two-run blast to left to all the sudden hand NSU a 5-3 advantage, which soon grew to 6-3 following another wild pitch that pushed Rivera across.
Rollins instantly responded, though. After a lead-off walk, the Tars put two in scoring position with one out before a two-run single narrowed the gap to 6-5. In the ensuing at-bat, the lead had already evaporated as the Tars' Kyle Bullock crushed a two-run homer to straight-away center, allowing the visitors to climb back in front.
After being retired in order in both the sixth and seventh innings, the Sharks'
Michael Avendano recorded a pinch-hit single to start the eighth. NSU could do nothing with the chance, however, and would go quietly the rest of the way.
INSIDE THE STATS:
- The Sharks are now 4-4 in one-run ball games this season.
- All three games of the series were decided by one run.
- Rollins failed to commit an error the entire three-game set.
UP NEXT
The Sharks will wrap up the regular season with a three-game series on the road at Florida Southern beginning next Sunday at 6 p.m. For complete coverage, visit the
schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_Baseball.
