SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. – Each of the first four hitters in the Sharks lineup recorded multiple hits, while Keyler Gonzalez tossed his fourth consecutive start of at least seven innings, as the Nova Southeastern Baseball team began Sunshine State Conference play with a 9-1 victory over the Eckerd Tritons on Friday evening at the Turley Complex.
Xavier Moronta (2-5, two-run HR, 2B, three RBIs) and Justin Wachs (2-4, two RBIs) carried the Sharks’ offense and Keyler Gonzalez (3-1; 7 IP, 9 Ks) became the first Sharks pitcher to throw seven or more innings in each of his first four starts in a season.
Records: Nova Southeastern 7-5, 1-0 SSC | Eckerd 2-9, 0-1 SSC
Score: Nova Southeastern 9 | Eckerd 1
Location: Turley Complex | Saint Petersburg, Fla.
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- The first five innings of the Sunshine State Conference opener was a pitcher’s duel, as Keyler Gonzalez and Edens matched each other pitch for pitch and kept each opposing offense off the scoreboard.
- Justin Wachs led off the top of the sixth inning with a base hit and scored on an RBI double from Xavier Moronta, giving the Sharks the first run of the game.
- Roylan Quevedo later added an RBI single, bringing in Moronta, as NSU extended the advantage to 2-0 over the Tritons.
- Eckerd responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, putting the score at 2-1.
- Wachs and Moronta sparked a two-out rally in the top of the seventh inning. Wachs drove in Jorge DeGoti following a sacrifice bunt from Richard Benitez and Moronta added a two-run home run, extending the lead to 5-1.
- Gonzalez set down the Tritons in order in his final inning of work.
- Benitez and Wachs each added RBIs for the Sharks, pushing the lead to 7-1 in the top of the eighth inning.
- Carlos Nolasco pitched a scoreless bottom half of the frame for NSU.
- Ronny Medina scored on a wild pitch before Gabriel Esquivel added an RBI double, giving the Sharks a 9-1 advantage.
- Chase Campbell pitched the ninth inning for the Sharks, sealing the SSC victory.
Xavier Moronta: 2-5, two-run HR, three RBI
Keylar Gonzalez: (3-1), 7 IP, 9 strikeouts
Justin Wachs: 2-4, two RBI
The Sharks continue their Sunshine State Conference series against Eckerd on Saturday, February 22, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Baseball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_Baseball.
