FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The final game of a three-game series at fourth-ranked Nova Southeastern had the same script as the other two as the Sharks showed why they are a national title contender with a 11-1 win in seven innings over Davenport on Saturday. This one was a little bit closer early on as the Sharks scored one run without a hit in the bottom of the first.
Jared Schwartz got the start on the mound for the Panthers but started off by hitting the first batter and walking the next. He struck out the hottest hitter in the Shark lineup, Duncan Pastore, for the first out and walked the bases loaded. The one run scored on a wild pitch and then Schwartz stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout and pop out.
Nova Southeastern scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-0 lead. However, they all came with two outs as
Ricky Clark came in with two outs and one runner on with the score 3-0. Clark allowed a single and a wild pitch for the fourth run to score.
Davenport's chance to cut into the deficit came in the top of the third.
Anthony Aloisio reached on an error with one out and
Carter Troncin doubled down the left field line.
Gaetano Vallone walked with two outs to load the bases and
Nolan Anspaugh came up. On a 3-1 count, Anspaugh flied out to right center to end the threat.
Nova Southeastern took a 5-0 lead before Davenport got their lone run of the game in the top of the sixth. Anspaugh doubled down the left field line and later scored with a one-out RBI single by
Cam Hart. The Sharks put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Adam Frank had a two-RBI double and Alejandro Macario hit a two-run homer.
DU scored one run on five hits with two errors. Schwartz (1-1) was saddled with the loss going 1.2 innings and allowing four earned runs with two walks and three strikeouts. Clark went 3.1 innings and allowed four hits and three earned runs with no walks and four strikeouts.
Spencer Vainavicz and
Alex Lord also pitched for a combined inning.
The Panthers started their spring break trip with four straight wins but then dropped their final five games and are now 6-10 overall after being ranked No. 15 nationally in the preseason. The team will return home to Michigan and next up is a three-game road series against Southern Indiana beginning on Friday, Mar. 11 at 3:00 PM eastern (2:00 PM central) in Evansville, Indiana.
