NSU Sharks News
Fiers And Albury Three Hit Florida Tech In 5-2 Victory
Fiers Tosses Eight Innings, Allowing Only Two Hits While Striking Out 11
MELBOURNE, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2008) - Led by the strong pitching effort of senior starter Michael Fiers (Pompano Beach, Fla.), the Nova Southeastern University baseball team defeated Florida Tech 5-2 in a non-conference, South Region game on Tuesday afternoon. The Sharks win, its eighth straight, improves their record to 8-1 on the season while Florida Tech falls to 6-5.Fiers took a perfect game into the fourth inning, retiring the first nine Panther batters in order. The final six out of those nine came by way of strikeout. A walk by Mitch Saum with two outs in the fourth ended his perfect game bid, but he continued to carry the no-hit bid into the sixth inning. Saum recorded the first Florida Tech hit with two outs in the sixth.
Shortstop Dale Alberto's (Sr., Davie, Fla.) RBI single with two outs in the top of the first inning put the Sharks up 1-0. A Chris Hamper (Fr., Melbourne, Fla.) infield single in the fourth inning drove in right fielder David Robinson (So., Bunnell, Fla.) from second base to make the score 2-0. A blooper just over the mound and in front of Panthers shortstop Alvaro Pizzaro allowed designated hitter Pete Simon (Sr., Lake Worth, Fla.) to score from third base and make the score 3-0 in the top of the sixth inning.
After Saum ended Fiers no-hit bid in the bottom of the sixth, designated hitter Kevin Villa hit a two-run homer to draw the Panthers to within a run at 3-2.
The Sharks would get the runs back in the top of the seventh inning, scoring twice on a double by Robinson with two outs. Fiers would cruise through the seventh and eighth innings, handing the ball off to closer Sean Albury (So., Nassau, Bahamas) to finish the game.
Fiers (W, 3-0) pitched eight strong innings, allowing only two hits and two earned runs while striking out 11. Albury allowed one hit and struck out one to earn his third save of the season.
Hamper led the Sharks at the plate, going 3-4 in his first collegiate start in left field. Second baseman Dexter Butler (Sr., Key West, Fla.) also had multiple hits for the Sharks.
NSU returns home to host Valdosta State at 6 pm on Friday, Feb. 20th at the NSU Baseball Complex.
