FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Baseball team won its fifth consecutive game on Thursday evening, defeating St. Cloud State 9-2 in the series opener. The Sharks were led by another dominant performance from Carlos Rey (5 IP, 8 K) and a two-hit, two-run game from Ihovany Castañeda.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Score: Nova Southeastern 9, St. Cloud State 2

Records: Nova Southeastern (8-9, 3-3 SSC) | St. Cloud State (4-5)

Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Get Social: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_Baseball | Facebook – Nova Southeastern University Baseball

HOW IT HAPPENED

Top of the Second – Carlos Rey picked up where he left off in his previous start, opening up the contest with four strikeouts in the first two innings. 

Bottom of the Fourth – The Sharks loaded the bases after Daniel Irisarri, Adam Smith and Derek Bermudez reached base. Ihovany Castaneda drove in Irisarri on a fielder's choice, and Smith scored on a throwing error. NSU extended its lead to 3-0 after Tyler Epstein drove in Castañeda on an RBI single.

Top of the Fifth – The Huskies got on the scoreboard, bringing in two runs on a double.

Bottom of the Fifth – Duncan Pastore and Irisarri reached base to open the inning, and each advanced a base after a wild pitch. Smith drove in Pastore and advanced Irisarri on an RBI groundout. Irisarri later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Sharks a 5-2 advantageover the Huskies.

Top of the Sixth - After allowing St. Cloud to load the bases, Danny Vazquez escaped the jam by recording back-to-back strikeouts. 

Bottom of the Sixth – Epstein reached on a base hit and stole both second and third base, before Stephen Schissler brought him home on a sacrifice fly to extend Nova Southeastern's lead to 6-2.

Bottom of the Seventh – With two outs, the Sharks added three more runs following a dropped pop-up by the Huskies shortstop, putting NSU ahead 9-2. 

Top of the Ninth – Anthony Karoly struck out two of the final three batters and secured a 9-2 win for Nova Southeastern over St. Cloud State in the series opener.

UPCOMING

Nova Southeastern and St. Cloud State will play game two of their three-game series on Friday, March 10, from the NSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.