Sunday, February 5, 2006
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN EDGES PC BASEBALL, 9-8
FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA. – The Nova Southeastern University baseball team improved to 2-1 on the season with a 9-8 win over the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (1-2) on Sunday afternoon at the Second Annual Nike/OTS Division II Baseball Challenge at the NSU Baseball Complex.
NSU senior outfielder Greg Burrows (Nassau, Bahamas) was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and blasted a game-winning homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Sharks pounded out 16 hits in the win. NSU senior closer Joe Franco (Boynton Beach, Fla.) worked a scoreless ninth to preserve the win and notch his second save of the season. Sharks’ senior right-handed pitcher Lou Leo (West Palm Beach, Fla.) (1-1) picked up the win, while pitching 1 1/3 innings in relief.
NSU was led offensively by sophomore outfielder Matt Mindick (Boynton Beach, Fla.) who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run, sophomore catcher Noel Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) who was 2-for-4 with two RBI, senior second baseman Sean McFadden (Hollywood, Fla.) was 2-for-5, and junior first baseman Chris Reynolds (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) who was 3-for-5 in the win.
Sophomore Russell Robinson (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) was 3-for-4 for Presbyterian College as he gave the Blue Hose a 1-0 lead with a homerun in the top of the first inning, but the Sharks responded with a five-run bottom of the first and never trailed en route to the victory.
Sharks’ junior starter Ruddy Garcia (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was solid in his NSU debut as he scattered seven hits over five innings, fanned three, and allowed four earned runs. Senior left-handed starter Robert Cole (Savannah, Ga.) (0-1) was charged with the loss for Presbyterian as he worked three innings in relief and allowed the homerun to Burrows.
The 2006 Nike/OTS Division II Baseball Challenge will conclude tomorrow evening at the NSU Baseball Complex when the Sharks host Palm Beach Atlantic at 6:00 p.m. PC returns to action on Tuesday, February 7, when the Blue Hose travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to face USC Upstate at 4:00.