NSU Sharks News
Sharks Sweep #11 Valdosta State
NSU Wins 7-6 And 4-0 In Doubleheader Sweep Of Blazers
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2009) The Nova Southeastern University baseball team swept a doubleheader from No. 11 nationally ranked Valdosta State in action at the NSU Baseball Complex on Saturday afternoon. The two wins improve the Sharks record to 10-2 on the season while Valdosta State Falls to 9-5.Valdosta State got on the board first in the opening game, manufacturing a run after lead-off hitter Robbie Kuzdale was hit by a pitch. Sharks left-fielder J.D. Martinez (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) evened the score in the bottom of the inning, hitting a RBI single between third base and shortstop.
Blazers left-fielder Logan Pierce launched a two-run homer in the top of the second inning to put Valdosta State back in the lead. NSU would cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by right-fielder David Robinson (So., Bunnell, Fla.).
Valdosta State would add two more runs in the third inning on four hits to lead 5-2.
After the Blazers added another run in the top of the fourth inning, NSU rallied to take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Shortstop Dale Alberto (Sr., Davie, Fla.) got the rally started by hitting a solo homer to lead off the inning. Two big hits with two outs proved to be the difference in the game. Second baseman Dexter Butler (Sr., Key West, Fla.) kept the inning alive with a two run single to center, followed by centerfielder Brayan Valencia's (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) go-ahead two run homer over the right field fence.
Relievers Zach North (So., Miami, Fla.) and Sean Albury (So., Nassau, Bahamas) pitched three scoreless inning to make the Sharks lead stand. Albury earned his fourth save of the year. Isaac Hicks (So., Ft. Myers, Fla.) was credited with his second win of the year in his third appearance.
Sharks starter Chris Hamper (Fr., Melbourne, Fla.) and catcher Nate Goldstein (So., Coral Springs, Fla.) set the tone for game two, finishing the top of the first with a strike-em out, throw-em out double play.
First baseman Rhys Robert's (Jr., Parkland, Fla.) RBI single in the bottom of the second inning proved to be all the scoring the Sharks needed, as Hamper, North and Albury combined for the shutout.
Martinez provided two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two RBI triple to right-centerfield. He would then score on a squeeze bunt by Roberts to account for the final, 4-0 score.
Hamper pitched five and one-thirds innings, allowing four hits while striking out five to earn his second win of the season.
On the day, Martinez led the Sharks at the plate, going 3-6 with a triple and three runs batted in.
NSU and Valdosta state will complete their four game series at the NSU Baseball Complex on Sunday, February 22nd at noon.
