FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team split its Thursday-night doubleheader with the Lynn Fighting Knights, as it took 11 innings for the Sharks offense to catch fire. After coming up on the short end of a pitching duel in the conference game, NSU lit up the board in the non-conference tilt to reach double-digits for the first time in six games.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game 1 Final Score: Lynn – 3, Nova Southeastern – 1
Game 2 Final Score: Nova Southeastern – 10, Lynn – 3
Records: Nova Southeastern (8-9, 6-9 SSC), Lynn (7-16, 6-12 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game 1
During the afternoon’s Sunshine State Conference contest, the Sharks struck early, as Adan Fernandez belted his fifth home run of the year out of left field in the first inning.
The Fighting Knights would counter to tie the game in the third, as Daniel Alfonso sent a home run shot to left center for the 1-all game.
Holding the Sharks without a hit again until the fourth to maintain the tie, Alfonso struck again in the fifth with a center field home run to grab the lead. In the eighth, Braden Forchic flared a double wide down the right field line to add another RBI and some insurance for Lynn.
However, the tandem of starter Misael Castillo and reliever Jake Buxbaum didn’t need much insurance, combining for 12 strikeouts and leaving the the solo home run as the only Sharks run on the board after the third out in the ninth. The Sharks left all seven runners they collected aboard.
Designated hitter Nik Sanders went 2-for-3 to lead the Sharks in the first outing.
Game 2
Just like the first game of the day, the non-conference nightcap opened with a Sharks home run, this time out of left field via Stephen Schissler. However, this time around, the Sharks kept the pressure on the Fighting Knights all the way to victory. In the second, Schissler struck again, roping a low line drive double just inside third base for two runs, plating Jarrett Hall and Olivier Mayrand – forcing Lynn to jump into the bullpen immediately. After relieving Jordan Winston, Philip Quinn added to the Sharks’ inning pot, granting Alex Steinbach an RBI walk to make it a three-run inning and a comfortable NSU lead.
Making his second start, Jose Varella coasted into the fourth before hitting any jams, but opening the frame with back-to-back hit batters proved troublesome. A Forchic single loaded up the bases and the Fighting Knights snagged two quick sacrifice flies. A Tal Erel RBI single capped the inning, but also the scoring for Lynn on the night.
Facing off with former Shark Marvin Guzman for the second time this season, NSU exploded on the scoreboard in response and put the game out of reach. After reaching via leadoff walk, MC Sagaro collected his first career run, dodging the tag at home on a Schissler RBI single. After Lynn went back to the bullpen, Steinbach added an RBI fielder’s choice. Hall scored on a booted ball in the middle infield and Adam Smith plated two runs on a hard-hit infield RBI single to break open the five-run inning.
The Sharks tacked up an insurance run to reach double-figures in the fifth of the seven-inning contest via a Steinbach sacrifice fly.
The win closed out at 10-6 after Jarrett Bond took over pitching duties and shut the door with a three-inning, career-first save.
STATS OF THE DAY
- This was the first SSC/Non-conference doubleheader of the season.
- A triple shy of the cycle, Schissler registered a career-best 3-for-4, 3-run, 4-RBI evening to lead the Sharks at the plate, going 4-for-8 on the day.
- Schissler started both games in center field, but pitched the final 1.2 innings of the opener, allowing two hits and one walk, with no runs and one strikeout.
- This was his fourth multi-hit game of the year and his third game of at least three RBI in 2021.
- In addition to his first run, Sagaro was in his first career start in the nightcap.
- Starter in the first game, Cooper Omans went a career-best 7.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, recording no walks and striking out five.
UP NEXT
The Sharks continue with the Fighting Knights on Saturday in Boca Raton with an SSC doubleheader at Lynn Baseball Field, first pitch slated for 12:00 p.m.
For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Instagram or Twitter @NSU_Baseball.
