NSU Sharks News
Lynn Sweeps #8 NSU In SSC Doubleheader
Sharks Limited To Just Six Runs In Two Games
BOCA RATON, Fla. (Mar. 15, 2009) No. 8 Nova Southeastern was swept in a Sunshine State Conference doubleheader, losing 6-5 and 5-1 at Lynn University on Saturday afternoon. NSU, who came into the series with a 13-game winning streak, now stands at 21-5 and 0-3 in SSC play. The Fighting Knights improve to 20-6 overall and 3-3 in the Sunshine State Conference.Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth of game one, Lynn sent eight batters to the plate to rally for the victory. After two walks and a single Lynn's All-American outfielder Gabe MacDougall drew a four pitch walk to close the deficit to one and forced the Sharks to make their fourth pitching change of the afternoon. Jose Velazquez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) stepped to the mound and balked in the tying run on his first pitch. NSU then intentionally walked Chris Chavez to load the bases but pinch hitter Steven Somers lined a single to left field to score the winning run.
The Sharks took an early 1-0 lead when third baseman Dale Alberto (Sr., Davie, Fla.) drove home centerfielder Jonathan Escarza (Fr., Miami, Fla.) with a bases loaded sacrifice fly.
Lynn knotted the game at one in the bottom of the third on a single, sacrifice bunt, passed ball and a RBI single by Einar Atencio.
An innocent two-out walk to Paddy Matera proved to be troublesome for the Sharks in the fourth. A close pitch by NSU starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (Jr., Jupiter, Fla.) was called ball four rather than strike three, giving LU a runner on first. Jason Ten Eyck responded by blooping a double over the first baseman's head and just inside the foul line while Matera rounded the bases and slid into home plate underneath the tag to put Lynn on top 2-1.
Despite some early control problems, Daniel Rouah settled down in the middle innings to shut out the Sharks offense. Rouah allowed four hits in seven innings of work while striking out four batters.
Mikolas had the no-decision despite coming out of the game with the lead after pitching seven strong innings, allowing only six hits and two runs.
Errors killed Lynn in the eighth as Nova Southeastern scored three unearned runs to take a 4-2 lead. After giving up consecutive singles to Sharks first baseman Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg (Jr., Coral Springs, Fla.) and Alberto to start the frame, the Knights turned to Evan Ellison to get out of the jam. A sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Pete Simon (Sr., Lake Worth, Fla.) was picked up by Ellison but the force throw at third was dropped, loading the bases. The next pitch was grounded to the right side but bobbled by Chavez, allowing one run to score and keeping the bases loaded. A RBI ground out by pinch hitter Ryan York (Fr., Alva, Fla.) to second and a suicide squeeze by second baseman Josh Leo (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) plated two more runs for the Sharks.
Patty Matera drove a pivotal run for Lynn in the home half of the eighth inning with a bases loaded ground ball to the left side.
Lynn starting pitcher Tommy Kahnle shut down the Sharks in game two, allowing five hits and one run with six strikeouts in a complete game effort.
An error by NSU's first baseman plated Lynn's first run as a routine ground ball off the bat of Daniel Flores slipped under his glove allowing Toro to score. Sharks leftfielder J.D. Martinez (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) tied the game at 1-1 as he went deep on a Kahnle fastball for his 10th home run of the season.
Lynn scored four runs on three hits to take the lead for good in the fourth inning. Atencio had the big hit of the inning, hitting a two-run homer to left field to give Lynn the 5-1 lead.
Martinez had a chance to make things interesting in the top of the seventh inning with runners on first and second and one out but lined into a double-play to end the game.
The Sharks return to action on Tuesday, March 17th, at 6 p.m. when they host No. 10 Franklin Pierce at the NSU Baseball Complex.
