FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 15 Newberry College Wolves remained undefeated on Friday night, despite the No. 16 Nova Southeastern Sharks claiming a first-inning that stood into the fifth frame. Although the Sharks defense closed out several Newberry scoring attempts, limited run support pushed the game to a 5-2 series-opening loss for the Sharks.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: No. 15 Newberry – 5, No. 16 Nova Southeastern – 2
Records: Newberry (9-0), Nova Southeastern (2-5)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Right away, shortstop Brandon Chinea made the most of opportunities presented, leading off the first frame with a single through the right side. Despite slipping on the basepath rounding first, Chinea remained locked in. Chinea later evaded Newberry starting pitcher Tomas Sorcia, Jr. on a rundown, stole third and put the Sharks on the board with a head-first slide home on an NSU double steal.
Making his second start of the season, senior JP Williams came out dealing and worked out of every challenge, tossing four shutout innings before reaching his allotted limit, striking out four with three hits and one walk.
Working against Jarret Krzyzanowki out of the Sharks bullpen, Zane Tarrance capitalized for the Wolves in the fifth with an RBI single kept from extras by second baseman Tyler Epstein’s diving grab. After the game went to a 1-1 tie, Krzyzanowski settled things quickly, picking the runner at first and then doling out two strikeouts limit the damage – posting a blank frame in the sixth as well.
However, Tarrance struck again to allow Newberry the lead in the seventh on a deep RBI single up the middle, Colin Allman scoring on the beaten throw as Epstein recovered from stopping the hit from leaving the infield. An additional RBI for Zachary Bailes in the eighth provided a little breathing room for the Wolves.
The Sharks weren’t letting the scores go without a response, as Adan Fernandez built on a one-out Duncan Pastore walk in the eighth, launching an RBI double deep into the right center alley. Stunting their comeback chances, the Sharks left the tying run aboard.
The top of the ninth saw Newberry break the game open, as a two-out, two-run single by Jack Harris pushed the score to its final margin at 5-2.
Reliever Quinton Driggers (3-0) earned the win for Newberry on 3.1 innings with one run, four hits and four strikeouts. Krzyzanowski (0-1) took the loss for the Sharks on 3.0 innings with two runs on five hits, striking out three.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Limited to six hits overall, the Sharks were limited to one hit into the sixth frame.
- In spite of the heavy hit count, the Sharks defense held the Wolves at the gates numerous time, limiting Newberry to 4-for-14 batting with runners in scoring position and 7-for-22 with runners.
- Pastore and Chinea each went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
- Bryan Diaz was also 1-for-3.
