Sharks Complete Sweep of Panthers

Reid Neal - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Nova Southeastern Sharks showed why they are the defending NCAA Division II baseball champions on Sunday, completing a doubleheader sweep of the Florida Tech Panthers, winning game two, 11-6.

Following a 7-6 win in game one, the Sharks found themselves down early in game two. only to fight back and take the lead late. Florida Tech followed their 14-hit barrage in game one, with 12 more in game two, but it wasn’t enough.

Florida Tech (27-19, 11-9 SSC) got to NSU starter Jonny Ortiz in the top of the second inning. Nick Capra doubled and later scored on a single by Vincenzo Catanza. The lead was short-lived, as the Sharks jumped on Andy Marzheuser in the bottom of the frame. Michael Hernandez and Dylan Woods each hit two-run home runs, quickly giving the home team a 4-1 lead.

To the Panthers credit, much like they did in game one, they would fight back in the top of the third.  Reid Neal, John Sternagel and Dan Szpik all singled to load the bases. Nick Capra would plate Neal with the Panthers fourth straight single, cutting the lead in half, 4-2. David Wilson’s two-run single tied the game, 4-4.

Marzheuser did not come out for the third inning, as he was relieved by Grant Willcoxon. Marzheuser pitched   two innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out three, throwing 38 pitches (30 strikes). Brandon Gomez would put the Sharks up 5-4, with an RBI single in the inning.

Florida Tech answered back in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs and taking their first lead of any kind all day. Sternagel’s sac fly scored the tying run and Szpik’s RBI double plated Reid Neal, who doubled earlier in the inning, giving the visitors a 6-5 lead.

Dylan Woods, who had a home run in game one, hit another one in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at six.

Willcoxon hit both batters he faced in the bottom of the fifth, prompting Colin Cristello to be called in out of the bullpen. He got all three batters he faced, keeping the game tied. Unfortunately, he would have his own control problems in the bottom of the sixth.

After getting the first two outs, Cristello gave up a single to Dillon Maya. He would steal second and go to third on a wild pitch. He would later score on another wild pitch, giving the Sharks a 7-6 lead. The Sharks would tack on another run when Jake Anchia hit his second home run in as many games, making it 8-6.

NSU (33-15, 16-7 SSC) would tack on three more runs in the eighth on a bases loaded wild pitch and an error on Neal, who dropped a pop up, allowing two more runs to score.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Nova Southeastern Box Score

Szpik and Capra ended the day with five hits in the two games and Neal led the Panthers with three hits in game two.

The series wraps up on Monday with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch.

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