FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –Palm Beach Atlantic broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning before tacking on one more run in the ninth, as Nova Southeastern dropped a Sunshine State Conference matchup by a final score of 7-3 on Wednesday night at the NSU Baseball Complex. The loss snaps the Sharks’ previous four-game win streak, bringing their overall record to 7-8 on the season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Palm Beach Atlantic – 7, Nova Southeastern – 3
Records: Palm Beach Atlantic (9-12, 7-12 SSC), Nova Southeastern (7-8, 6-8 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Following a scoreless top of the first by starting pitcher Daniel Rivero, the Sharks climbed in front in the home half of the inning thanks to an Alex Steinbach’s two-out, RBI-single that scored Andrew Labosky.
The Sailfish didn’t waste much time answering, though, as Sebastian Salado knotted the score at 1-1 with an opposite-field, solo home run in the top of the second.
Still tied in the bottom of the third, the Sharks reclaimed the lead once again, as a misjudged ball to right field off the bat of Adan Fernandez plated both Alejandro Macario and Stephen Schissler.
PBA cut the lead in half in the ensuing frame, yet one of four double plays turned on the night by the NSU infield limited the damage, keeping the Sharks ahead, 3-2.
After evening the ball game with an RBI-triple in the sixth, PBA’s Landen Morrison continued his big night with a two-run double down the left-field line that put the Sailfish ahead for the first time in the seventh inning.
Trailing 6-3, NSU forced the pressure on the PBA bullpen in both the seventh and eighth innings, but seemingly came up empty each time, stranding a combined five runners in the two frames.
The Sailfish added some insurance in the ninth on an RBI-groundout before the Sharks went down quietly on a night in which the offense produced just one hit after the third inning.
STATS OF THE DAY
- Making his second start of the season on the mound, Rivero tossed four innings, surrendering two earned runs on four hits while striking out three and walking one.
- Following his two-RBI night, Fernandez is now up to 13 on the year, trailing only Tyler Epstein for the team lead.
- The Sharks were held to just four hits in the effort, tied for the second-lowest mark of the season.
- Both teams combined for 22 walks, 11 issued by each side.
UP NEXT
The Sharks will look to return to the win column with a quick turnaround, as they square off against Lynn in a home doubleheader Thursday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. – split between an SSC and a non-conference game. NSU knocked off the Fighting Knights, 11-4, in the season’s first meeting just last Wednesday.
For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Instagram or Twitter @NSU_Baseball.
