FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball had a strong showing on the road, winning two of three games against the Florida Southern Mocs to claim the series. After dropping the opener, the Sharks responded with a 6-3 victory in game two and an explosive 16-10 comeback win in the finale, improving to 28-19 overall and 15-12 in Sunshine State Conference play.
Records: Nova Southeastern 26-19 (13-12 SSC) | Florida Southern 25-18 (14-10 SSC)
Scores: Nova Southeastern 1, Florida Southern 5
Location: Henley Field | Lakeland, Fla.
Pitching Decisions: W: Sachem Ramos (6-3) L: Manning, Nick (7-2)
- In the series opener against Florida Southern Mocs, the Sharks turned to Nick Manning on the mound to open the game.
- Manning worked efficiently through the early innings, keeping Florida Southern off the board in the first while working around a two-out walk. Nova Southeastern threatened in the top of the first as Anthony Stinson singled and stole second, later advancing to third, but the Sharks were unable to capitalize and the game remained scoreless.
- Florida Southern broke through in the bottom of the second inning, stringing together timely hitting to take control early. An RBI single from Eli Thurmond opened the scoring before a two-run triple by Ryan Jenkins extended the lead to 3-0.
- The Sharks responded in the third inning thanks to Anthony Stinson, who delivered a solo home run to center field to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, that would be the lone breakthrough offensively for Nova Southeastern.
- Manning settled back in following the second inning, limiting further damage and keeping the Sharks within striking distance. Florida Southern threatened again in the fourth but Nova Southeastern's defense turned a key double play to escape the inning.
- The Moccasins added an insurance run in the fifth inning, using a walk and a sacrifice bunt to set up an RBI single from Will Burke, pushing the lead to 4-1.
- Nova Southeastern had opportunities to respond, most notably in the sixth inning when Anthony Stinson singled and Emilio Gonzalez doubled to put runners in scoring position with one out. However, Florida Southern worked out of the jam to maintain the three-run advantage.
- After Michael Alfonso entered in relief, the Sharks continued to hold Florida Southern in check until the eighth inning. The Moccasins added one final run on an RBI single from Ryan Jenkins, extending the lead to 5-1.
- The Sharks were unable to generate late offense, going down in order in the ninth inning as Florida Southern secured the 5-1 victory.
- Anthony Stinson led the way offensively for Nova Southeastern, recording multiple hits including the team's lone home run, while the pitching staff combined to limit further damage after the early innings.
Records: Nova Southeastern 27-19 (14-12 SSC) | Florida Southern 25-19 (14-11 SSC)
Scores: Nova Southeastern 6, Florida Southern 3
Location: Henley Field | Lakeland, Fla.
Pitching Decisions: W: Zapata, Federico (5-3) L: Ty Bradle (3-5)
- In the second game of the series against the Mocs, the Sharks wasted no time setting the tone with an explosive start at the plate.
- Nova Southeastern struck early in the top of the first inning as Anthony Stinson led things off with a double and advanced to third on a fielding error. After a walk to Roylan Quevedo, Emilio Gonzalez delivered the big swing of the inning, ripping a two-RBI triple to center field to put the Sharks on the board. Dakota Jones followed with an RBI groundout, extending the lead to 3-0 before Florida Southern could record the third out.
- On the mound, the Sharks backed their early offense with a strong start, working around a pair of hits in the bottom half of the first to keep the Moccasins off the scoreboard.
- After a quiet couple of innings, Nova Southeastern added to its lead in the fourth. Dakota Jones singled and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before advancing to third on a throwing error. Nick Rodriguez came through with an RBI single down the right field line, pushing the advantage to 4-0.
- Florida Southern answered in the bottom of the fourth inning, using a double and a sacrifice fly to plate two runs and cut the deficit in half at 4-2.
- The Sharks responded immediately in the fifth inning. Sebastian Garavito doubled to lead off the frame and later came around to score on a fielder's choice from Anthony Stinson, restoring a three-run cushion at 5-2.
- Nova Southeastern continued to apply pressure in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a walk and hit-by-pitch to create another scoring opportunity. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Nick Rodriguez delivered again with an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-2.
- Florida Southern picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run from Brock Budacki, but the Sharks' pitching staff quickly settled in and shut the door the rest of the way.
- From there, Federico Zapata's pitching and defense took control, holding the Mocs scoreless over the final three innings for his first complete game of the season. The Sharks closed out the game efficiently, retiring the side in order in the ninth to secure a 6-3 victory.
- Emilio Gonzalez and Nick Rodriguez led the offensive effort, combining for key extra-base hits and multiple RBIs, while Federico Zapata delivered a lights out performance on the mound to preserve the early lead and even the series.
Records: Nova Southeastern 28-19 (15-12 SSC) | Florida Southern 25-20 (14-12 SSC)
Scores: Nova Southeastern 16, Florida Southern 10
Location: Henley Field | Lakeland, Fla.
Pitching Decisions: W: Garro, Caden (2-1) L: Aidan Kelley (0-2)
- In the series finale against the Mocs, the Sharks found themselves in an early hole before mounting an explosive offensive comeback to secure a high-scoring victory.
- Nova Southeastern struggled out of the gate offensively, going down in order in the first inning. Florida Southern capitalized in the bottom half, using a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead. The Moccasins added another run in the second inning on a solo home run, extending the advantage to 3-0.
- Florida Southern continued to build momentum in the third inning, taking advantage of walks, timely hitting, and a defensive miscue to plate four more runs and stretch the lead to 7-0.
- The Sharks finally broke through in the fourth inning when Dakota Jones launched a solo home run to right field, putting Nova Southeastern on the board at 7-1.
- The turning point came in a massive fifth inning for the Sharks. Nova Southeastern erupted for six runs on a flurry of hits and aggressive baserunning. Emilio Gonzalez delivered the biggest swing of the frame with a three-run home run, while Michael Arnold added an RBI single as the Sharks stormed back to tie the game at 7-7.
- Nova Southeastern carried that momentum into the sixth inning, where Joel Cabrera gave the Sharks their first lead of the game with a solo home run to make it 8-7.
- Florida Southern answered in the bottom half, capitalizing on an error to tie the game once again at 8-8, setting the stage for a decisive stretch.
- The Sharks broke the game open in the seventh inning with another offensive surge. Joel Cabrera came through with a clutch three-RBI double down the left field line, and Anthony Stinson followed with a two-run home run to cap a five-run inning, pushing the lead to 13-8.
- Nova Southeastern continued to add insurance in the eighth as Michael Arnold delivered a two-RBI single, extending the advantage to 15-8. The Sharks tacked on one more run in the ninth to cap their scoring at 16.
- Florida Southern managed to push across a pair of late runs in the ninth, but the outcome was never in doubt as Nova Southeastern closed out the 16-10 victory.
- Joel Cabrera and Emilio Gonzalez led the offensive explosion for the Sharks, combining for multiple extra-base hits and key RBIs, while the lineup as a whole showcased resilience in overcoming the early deficit and securing the series win.
The Sharks return to the field this weekend against the Lynn University Fighting Knights for their final conference series of the season starting on Thursday, May 7th at 6 p.m at the NSU Baseball Complex in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. To stay up-to-date on the Sharks follow on Instagram and X @NSU_Baseball.
