Men's Baseball got back to winning ways with a crushing victory over Mercyhurst.

Men's Baseball End the Week in Fine Style

By: Craig Heenighan

Posted: 3/2/10

Valdosta State-Game 1

The NSU men's baseball team was defeated in the first of a four game series against Valdosta State on Feb, 19 by a score of 8-3.

Despite the defeat it was the Sharks who came out firing on all cylinders as they scored two runs in the top of the third inning. The two-run inning was ignited by a triple from freshman Alex Marrero with junior Haven FitzSimmonds and senior Eric McCans securing RBI's in the inning.

Valdosta replied immediately as they tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the same inning. The Blazers of Valdosta State then stormed into the lead scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of consecutive home runs. The Sharks continued to battle valiantly and despite the Blazers two runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth, NSU added a consolation run in the top of the ninth courtesy of an RBI double from FitzSimmonds.

Junior Luis Penate led the Sharks at the plate as he went 2-4 with a double and a single.

Valdosta State-Game 2

The Sharks got back to winning ways as they defeated the Blazers by a score of 4-2 on Feb, 20.

It was Valdosta who took the lead first with a run in the bottom of the third, however the Sharks quickly replied in the top of the fourth with an RBI groundout from senior Brayan Valencia.

The Sharks took control of the proceedings as they scored two-runs in the top of the sixth courtesy of Penate and McCans who scored due to two throwing errors by the Blazers. NSU made the victory all but secure in the top of the eighth with a further insurance run to lead the game 4-1. Valdosta replied with a run in the bottom of the eighth but that would be the closest they would come to victory as the Sharks looked comfortable in the end.

Junior reliever Isaac Hicks was tagged with the win after four and one-third innings pitched in which he allowed just two hits and one unearned run.

Valdosta State-Game 3

In the penultimate game of the series, the Sharks were comprehensively beaten by the Blazers going down by a score-line of 8-2.

It was Valdosta who took an early lead, scoring off a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. The Shark responded to tie the game in the top of the third in similar fashion on a sacrifice fly from Penate.

The Sharks took the lead in the top of the fifth inning off a triple from junior Sharad Johnson who was brought home by an RBI groundout from Valencia. This would ultimately be the closest the Sharks would come to victory as the Blazers were ruthless in their response as they scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth and a further three runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure a comfortable victory in the end.

Junior pitcher Nick Avila was tagged with the loss allowing five runs in five and two thirds innings pitched.

Valdosta State-Game 4

In the final game of the series the Sharks were edged out in a close encounter by the Blazers by a score of 8-7 on Feb, 21.

The Sharks took an early lead courtesy of a double from Penate who was brought home by an RBI single from McCans. Valdosta stormed into the lead in the bottom of the second after taking advantage of two walk-offs to score three runs for a 3-1 lead. NSU responded in fine style scoring two runs in the top of the third to tie the game.

The Blazers regained the lead courtesy of a solo home run before the lead again changed hands as the Sharks scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to lead 5-4. Valdosta slowly started to take advantage of the game as they scored one run in the bottom of the fourth and a further two runs courtesy of a two run homer in bottom of the fifth to lead 7-5.

After the Blazers added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sharks closed the lead to just one run after scoring two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Senior Rhys Roberts scored on a sacrifice fly and junior Dusty Maggs garnered a run after smart base running.

However, the Sharks were unable to close the deficit any further as they were narrowly edge out in a hotly contested encounter.

Mercyhurst

The Sharks rounded out their week with an impressive 7-1 victory over Mercyhurst on Feb, 25.

The Lakers of Mercyhurst took the lead in the top of the second inning off a solo home-run. The Sharks responded immediately with two runs in the bottom of the second and one run in the bottom of the third inning courtesy of a two run RBI from junior Penate. The game would remain in the balance until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Sharks added a further four runs on a bases clearing triple by junior Matt Seese, who then scored on an errant throw.

The Sharks will be hoping the victory against Mercyhurst will spark a winning streak as they head out on the road against Florida Tech in their next outing.