NSU Sharks News

Sharks Pile On Five Home Runs, 27 Hits And 23 Runs

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2009) - Led by their bats, the Nova Southeastern University baseball team defeated Saint Leo University 18-3 and 5-2 in a doubleheader at the NSU Baseball Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks improve their record to 3-1 on the season while Saint Leo falls to 0-3.

A Dexter Butler (Sr., Key West, Fla.) home run put the Sharks on the board in the opening game of the doubleheader in the bottom of the first inning. Senior shortstop Dale Alberto (Davie, Fla.) would drive in two more runs in the inning on a single to centerfield.

First baseman Rhys Roberts (Jr., Parkland, Fla.) added to the Sharks lead in the third inning, driving in J.D. Martinez (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.), who doubled to open the inning. Freshman right fielder Jonathan Escarza (Miami, Fla.), making his first collegiate start, followed with an RBI single to right field. Third baseman Eric McCans (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) capped the inning with a three run homer over the left field fence.

Alberto drove home another run in the fourth inning with a bases loaded RBI single. After catcher Nate Goldstein (So., Coral Springs, Fla.) drove in a run, McCans would add another RBI to his collection with a single through the left side.

Saint Leo finally reached Sharks starter Miles Mikolas (Jr., Jupiter, Fla.) in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on three hits and one NSU error.

Finding himself at the plate with the bases loaded once again in the fifth inning, Alberto put the game out of reach for Saint Leo by blasting a grand slam to make it 15-3.

After a Martinez RBI single, pinch hitter Pete Simon (Sr., Lake Worth, Fla.) hit a two run homer in his first at-bat of the 2009 campaign to end the scoring in game one of the doubleheader.

Alberto finished the game 3-5 with seven runs batted in. Escarza was 4-5 with a run scored and a RBI. McCans, Martinez, Spanjer-Furstenburg (Jr., Pretoria, Fla.) and Roberts had two hits apiece.

Mikolas (1-0) picked up the victory, pitching seven innings, allowing three runs; two earned, on four hits. He had five strikeouts while walking only one batter. Isaac Hicks (So., Ft. Myers, Fla.) and Drew Reeves (Fr., Ft. Myers, Fla.) each pitched one inning of scoreless relief.

Lion's starter Matt Smith (0-1) collected the loss, allowing seven runs in two and two-thirds innings pitched.

NSU freshman starter Chris Hamper (Fr., Melbourne, Fla.) escaped two early jams in game two. In the top of the first inning, Lions centerfielder Kyle Hobbs was thrown out at the plate by NSU right fielder David Robinson (So., Bunnell, Fla.) after Anthony Santa's single. In the top of the second inning, Aaron McLamar was thrown out at the plate by Sharks second baseman Dexter Butler on a double steal attempt.

Saint Leo finally cashed in on a scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning, scoring a single run on shortstop Bobby Munoz's RBI single to right field to lead 1-0.

A J.D. Martinez double tucked just inside the left field line scored McCans to knot the score at one apiece in the bottom of the third inning.

After Saint Leo scored another run to take the lead back in the top of the fourth inning, NSU responded right away. Catcher Ryan York (Alva, Fla.) advanced Simon and Alberto, who previously singled, to second and third base on a sacrifice bunt. Robinson followed with a two RBI double in the left centerfield gap to put the Sharks ahead, 3-2.

A solo home run by Brayan Valencia (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) added to the Sharks lead in the fifth inning.

Pinch runner Alan Avila (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) scored on a passed ball in the sixth inning to add another insurance run for NSU.

Valencia and York led the Sharks with two hits at the plate. Robinson had a game high two RBI's.

Hamper went four and one-thirds inning in his NSU debut, allowing two runs on five hits to earn the victory. Reliever Zach North (So., Miami, Fla.) allowed only one hit and no runs in one and two-thirds innings. Closer Sean Albury (So., Nassau, Bahamas) collected his first save of the season, striking out the side in the seventh inning.

The Sharks will remain at home, hosting St. Thomas University at 6 pm on Thu. Feb. 12th vs. at the NSU Baseball Complex.

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