Sharks Deliver Solid South Region Victory at West Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball played nearly lights out on Monday night to pick up its third consecutive win on the current road swing, scoring in bunches behind stalwart pitching to down South Region foe West Florida at Jim Spooner Field, 8-1. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Nova Southeastern – 8, West Florida – 1
Records:  Nova Southeastern (9-9), West Florida (9-7)  
Location: Jim Spooner Field, Pensacola, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
A very quiet first inning for the Sharks didn’t match up with the remainder of the night, as UWF Sean Means collected a strikeout and a double play to end the opening NSU stanza. The Argonauts countered by capitalizing on a hit batter, a steal and an error to place a runner at third in their first frame – their only runner beyond second from that point to the fifth inning as starter Matt Ornelas settled in for the long haul.

In the top of the second, the Sharks offense came alive and took command of the game. After Andrew Labosky Coaxed out a five-pitch leadoff walk, Ray Sanchez and Brandon Chinea each followed with singles to load up the bases. Catcher Alex Hernanez sent a rocket to the center field warning track off fielder Dylan Menhennett’s glove on the run, ruled an error, but plated a pair for the Sharks on the play as a sacrifice fly. Chinea scored from third just two pitches later on a Bryce Hazzard RBI groundout. Closing out the scoring for the frame, Hernandez tagged and scored on a long foul fly down the right line, coming home as the first baseman sailed the long-range throw and the Sharks were off to the races.

The fourth inning saw Hazzard bring home another run, as Chinea dashed to the plate on his RBI fielder’s choice to first base. 

It was the fifth inning that allowed the Sharks to really put things away. Tyler Epstein led off with a single, but was caught stealing. However, Adan Fernandez singled to left field to take his spot, stealing second. Following another Labosky walk, Sanchez smashed a three-run opposite field home run into the left field party deck to grant the Sharks an eight run advantage.

In the meantime, Ornelas was dealing and racked up six strikeouts on the night – holding the Argos into the fifth inning before allowing the first of just two hits in the game. Setting himself for the eventual win, Ornelas (1-1) allowed just a single run, as Jack Copley got that first hit and came around to score in the fifth on a two-out Justin Dunnam single. Ornelas bowed out after putting UWF down in order in the bottom of the sixth with his third-longest career outing and the most innings this season.

Taking the loss, the Argos stuck with Means (1-1) through all the scoring and found an answer when he retired after the fifth, bringing up right-handed reliever Josh Pahald, who tossed a 4.0-inning four-hitter, striking out five Sharks.

On the other side of the field, the Sharks bullpen also delivered a close-out performance, with Jarret Krzyzanowski knocking out the final three innings with three strikeouts and two hits for his first career save.

STATS OF THE NIGHT

  • With the victory, the Sharks’ record against the Argos moves to 5-2 all-time, dating back to 2012.
  • Ornelas made his longest start of the season and his six strikeouts ties for the second-best performance of his career, last reaching that count last April 26 at Saint Leo.
  • With 12 hits on the night, this is the eighth game with team hitting in double-digits.
  • Now holding the team’s highest hitting streak, Tyler Epstein has reached on a hit in 13 consecutive appearances – Epstein was 2-for-5 with his sixth multi-hit game.
  • Fernandez extended his team-leading reached base streak to 18 games on a 2-for-4 hitting performance, his seventh multi-hitter of the year.
  • Sanchez’ fifth-inning home run was his third of the year and marked his fifth multi-RBI game – batting 2-for-4 for his second multi-hitter.
  • Chinea went 2-for-4 with two runs for his sixth multi-hit game.
  • The Sharks extend their stolen base count to 48 on the year with a pair tonight and ranked fifth in the nation at the stat to start the week.
  • NSU added another double play to bring their NCAA fifth-ranked count to 19.

FROM COACH LAZ GUTIERREZ
“We played a complete game tonight. We hit, pitched and defended well. It was good to see it all come together.”

UP NEXT
The Sharks continue in Pensacola for one more in-Region contest at the Argos. After shifting things for weather, first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday.

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