FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In a regulation game that stretched nearly four hours amid chilled and gusty conditions at the NSU Baseball Complex, the hits kept flying for both squads and left the scoreboard spinning, as Assumption College topped the No. 24 Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball team on Sunday, 17-13.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Assumption – 17, Nova Southeastern – 13
Records: Assumption (4-5-1), Nova Southeastern (11-11)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Sharks battled from behind from the very opening frame, as a pair of singles set up the Greyhounds for an initial Dillon Koste score on a wild pitch, followed by a three-run Matt Lonardo home run lifted into the jet stream and beyond the left field fence.
The Sharks countered in the home half with an Andrew Labosky RBI groundout that sent Tyler Epstein to the plate, but NSU was still looking at a three-run deficit.
The Greyhounds struck again in the second, reclaiming the run as another runner scored on a wild pitch.
Once again, the Sharks responded with a single run in the third as Adan Fernandez fired an RBI double-shot into left center, allowing Duncan Pastore to reach the plate.
This time, the retort from Assumption expanded the advantage in a big way, as R.J. Libby found the space between the fielders in right center to bring in a pair on the double and push ahead 7-2. The Greyhounds followed up two innings later with an offensive outburst against the Sharks’ bullpen, logging a four-run frame to go up by nine.
With AC starter McGuire O’Sullivan nearing 100 pitches, the Sharks started to break his stride in the bottom of the sixth. Ray Sanchez and pinch hitter Joey Raffaele both coaxed out walks and Michael Uz loaded the bases with a single. Pastore found space through the left side for a two-run single, everybody moving over on a cutoff error. Facing reliever Justin Ray, Epstein finished wiping the bases with a two-run double lined over the shortstop. After having a bomb of a home run called back as a foul fly, Fernandez still made hay with an RBI line shot past the third baseman to score Epstein and trim the deficit to four runs.
However, the seventh saw Assumption rattle off six more runs, capped by a three-run Philip Gaine home run to left.
The Sharks kept chopping away at the Assumption lead, with Brandon Chinea scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh and then bringing home Epstein on and RBI single in the eighth. Down to their last chance with two outs in the ninth, Labosky sparked a would-be final rally with a grand slam off the left field scoreboard. However, TJ Masella took just two batters to log the final out and send the game final at 17-13.
O’Sullivan (1-2) earned the win for Assumption, going 104 pitches over 5.2 innings with seven hits and six runs. Starter Matt Ornelas (1-2) took the loss with five runs on five hits through 2.0 innings.
STATS OF THE GAME
- Just one day after setting a season-high in scoring, the Sharks did it once again, reaching 13 runs in the losing effort – The most runs in a loss since a 17-15 loss at Florida Tech on April 12, 2011.
- The Sharks also recorded 15 hits against the Greyhounds, making it at least 12 hits in the each of the past six games, exceeding 14 hits in five of those contests with a 4-2 record in the last six.
- The Sharks have also had a batter collect four hits in three of the last four outings – in this case, Epstein went 4-for-5 with two RBI and four runs scored, and hitting .409 (9-for-22) on the week with five RBI and seven runs.
- Epstein extended his team-high 16-game hit streak and registered his seventh multi-hit game and second multi-RBI effort.
- Chinea also went 3-for-6 for his ninth multi-hit game.
- Pastore, Fernandez and Alex Hernandez each garnered two hits apiece.
- Labosky was 1-for-6, but logged a season-high five RBI.
- Fernandez grew his team-best reached base streak to 21 consecutive appearances.
- Leading the NCAA in stolen bases, the Sharks boosted their season total to 65 with five steals against Greyhounds.
- Allowing 11 walks (with nine from the Assumption staff), the Sharks provided the most free passes since 2013 against Southern New Hampshire.
FROM HEAD COACH LAZ GUTIERREZ
Talking with Coach @DrLaz1 after Sunday’s week-closing loss to Assumption. Tampa coming up next weekend.#PrepareToDominate We>Me🦈⚾ pic.twitter.com/pjepWvlF98— NSU Baseball (@NSU_Baseball) March 9, 2020
UP NEXT
The Sharks’ game load lightens up for a few days ahead of a key weekend, hosting defending National Champion and current No. 4 Tampa on Friday and Saturday at the NSU Baseball Complex.
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