MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference has announced the 2025 Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Thursday afternoon. The Nova Southeastern Sharks, under the direction of Head Coach Adrian Morales, are tied for second with Florida Southern, with both teams receiving 79 points.
Tampa, the reigning NCAA Division II national champions and SSC regular season winners, were chosen to win the league for the 18th time in the last 19 polls.
Nova Southeastern, in their first season under Morales, finished the regular season with a 28-18 record. The Sharks begin the 2025 season on Friday, January 31st, at the NSU Baseball Complex against Catawba. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Below are the full results of the 2025 SSC preseason coaches’ poll. Coaches cannot vote for their teams (points: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With the arrival of the new year, spring is just around the corner and so is the return of Nova Southeastern Sharks Baseball. Entering year two under Head Coach Adrian Morales, the Sharks will begin their 2025 season on January 31st, with sights set on returning to the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re excited to get back on the field and get the season started. We have a challenging schedule this year, playing several teams that advanced deep into the tournament last year,” said Morales. “We have a roster that we feel is ready to take the next step and that is committed to playing to the caliber and maintaining the tradition of Sharks Baseball.”
Nova Southeastern starts the season with an eight-game home stand, hosting national semifinalist Catawba (1/31), a doubleheader versus Delta State (2/1) and closing the opening weekend against Wingate (2/2). The home stand continues the following weekend with Erskine (2/7), two games versus West Alabama (2/8) and finishing with Washburn (2/9).
NSU’s hits the road traveling to Americus, GA., for a three-game series against Georgia Southwestern (2/13-2/15), before beginning Sunshine State Conference play versus Eckerd (2/21-2/22). Nova Southeastern welcomes Florida Tech to the NSU Baseball Complex for the first home SSC series of the year, beginning on February 28th. In the first week of March, the Sharks will hit the road for a pair of games versus South region opponent, Valdosta State, starting on March 4th.
Sunshine State Conference play continues with a road-trip to Rollins for a three-game series (3/14-15), before the Sharks return home to host Barry in a mid-week contest (3/18), prior to four consecutive games, including the SSC series, versus Palm Beach Atlantic (3/21-3/22; 3/25). The calendar flips to April, as the home stretch of the season begins for the Sharks with an away game against the Moccasins of Florida Southern (4/1) and NSU resumes SSC play against the reigning NCAA Division II national champion Spartans from Tampa (4/4 – 4/5), before playing Barry in a non-conference tilt on April 9th.
Nova Southeastern’s final stretch of the season consists of Sunshine State Conference series against Saint Leo (4/11 – 4/12), at Embry Riddle (4/17 – 4/18), Florida Southern (4/25 – 4/26), a mid-week tilt against Palm Beach Atlantic (4/29), on the road against Lynn (5/2 – 5/3) and closing the 2025 regular season with a three-game series versus Barry for the first rendition of the “County-Line Cup” starting on May 9th.
To stay up-to-date on Sharks Baseball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_Baseball. To purchase tickets for the 2025 season, click here.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Frank Elissalt, a senior right-handed pitcher for the Nova Southeastern Sharks Baseball program, was drafted by the New York Mets in the 19th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.
During the 2024 season, Elissalt led the Sharks pitching staff with 19 appearances, throwing 51 innings, and recording 62 strikeouts. Elissalt carried a 3.71 earned run average (ERA), along with a 1.27 walks/hits per inning pitched (WHIP). Elissalt pitched two seasons for NSU, totaling 32 appearances, 113.1 innings pitched, 119 strikeouts and held a 4.05 ERA.
Elissalt becomes the first draft pick under Head Baseball Coach Adrian Morales and joins Carlos Rey (Arizona Diamondbacks, 2023), Garrett Wolforth (Cincinnati Reds, 2019), Brock Minich (Seattle Mariners, 2019), Jake Anchia (Seattle Mariners, 2018), Devin Conn (Houston Astros, 2018), and Joe Strzelecki (Miami Marlins, 2018) as Sharks draftees in recent years.
“We are thrilled to announce that one of our outstanding student-athletes has been drafted by the New York Mets. This is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and exceptional talent on the field,” stated Morales. “We are incredibly proud of his achievements and excited to see him take the next step in his career. He has consistently demonstrated excellence and represented Nova Southeastern University with class and integrity. “We wish him all the best in his professional career with the New York Mets.”
Morales guided the Sharks to a 28-18 record during his first season as the Head Coach, the second most wins in the first season of a coach’s tenure at NSU. The New York Mets currently hold a 49-46 record and are in the third National League Wild Card spot.
The Sharks will return to competition in the Spring of 2025. To stay up-to-date on NSU Baseball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_Baseball.
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference announced the league’s 2024 baseball postseason awards. Justin Wachs earned first-team All-Sunshine State Conference honors, while Boris Peña (Second-Team) and Jorge Braceras (All-Defensive Team) were also recognized. The full release by the Sunshine State Conference can be found here.
Overall, 37 student-athletes garnered all-league honors, across the first, second and all-defensive teams. Voting for the All-SSC baseball awards is conducted among the league’s head baseball coaches.
Wachs put together the best season of his career in 2024 and was the only Sharks player to start all 45 games during the campaign. The redshirt-junior led NSU in with 59 hits, while recording a 0.353 batting average, adding nine doubles, seven home runs, and 35 runs batted in. In Sunshine State Conference action, Wachs recorded a team-high 40 hits, a 0.333 batting average, seven doubles, five home runs and 25 runs batted in.
Peña anchored the middle of the Sharks lineup during the 2024 campaign. Peña recorded a 0.346 batting average, 0.455 on-base percentage, 0.593 slugging percentage, while leading NSU with nine home runs, 38 runs batted in and 96 total bases. The graduate student had a 0.339 batting average, six doubles, six home runs, and 21 runs batted in during league play.
Braceras was excellent behind the plate for NSU, leading the Sunshine State Conference with 19 runners caught stealing, the most in a season for Nova Southeastern since 2005.
The Nova Southeastern Sharks, under the direction of Head Coach Adrian Morales, finished the 2024 season with a 28-18 record, the second most wins for a first-year head coach in progam history, To stay up-to-date on NSU Baseball during the off-season, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_Baseball.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Baseball team split a doubleheader matchup with the Eckerd Tritons on Saturday afternoon from the NSU Baseball Complex.
Records: Nova Southeastern 28-17, 18-11 SSC | Eckerd 17-31, 5-23 SSC Score: Nova Southeastern 12 | Eckerd 10 Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_Baseball
TOP 1st – The Tritons came out aggressive, tacking on four quick runs to take the early 4-0 lead.
BOT 1st – Henry Waller answered with a grand slam, tying the game at one apiece.
BOT 1st – Tyson Cooper came up to the plate and singled to right field, bringing Garcia home for the fifth Shark run of the game.
TOP 3rd – Eckerd wasn’t backing down, putting another run on the board to bring the score to 5-5.
TOP 5th – The Tritons tacked on another run, off a fielding error by the Sharks.
BOT 5th RBIs from Rodriguez and Noriega pushed NSU ahead 8-6.
TOP 7th – Eckerd continued to battle, putting two more runs on the board and tying the game at eight a piece.
TOP 8th – The run barrage continued for the Tritons as they scored another run to take a 9-8 lead.
TOP 9th – A home run by Eckerd allowed them to eclipse the double-digit run mark, taking a 10-8 lead.
BOT 9th – With the bases loaded, Jorge Braceras was walked, bringing home a run and cutting NSU’s deficit to one. Shortly after, Henry Wallen scored a run off of a fielder’s choice, tying the game at 10-10.
BOT 10th – Justin Wachs then came up to the plate and hit a walk-off two run homer to secure the 12-10 victory for NSU.
(GAME TWO)
Records: Nova Southeastern 28-19, 18-12 SSC | Eckerd 18-31, 5-23 SSC Score: Nova Southeastern 4 | Eckerd 9 Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_Baseball
TOP 1st – The Tritons struck first with a sacrifice fly.
BOT 2nd – Landon Lowe hit an RBI double to center field, tying the game at one apiece.
TOP 3rd – Eckerd reclaimed the lead after putting another run on the board.
TOP 4th – The run barrage continued for the Tritons, as they scored two runs, giving themselves a three-run advantage.
TOP 5th – EC tacked on three more runs, pushing their lead to 7-1.
TOP 7th – Eckerd continued to put the pressure on, tacking on another run.
BOT 8th – The Sharks began to mount a comeback, scoring three runs and cutting their deficit to 8-4.
TOP 9th – Eckerd would go on to seal the deal, scoring their ninth run of the game ultimately securing the 9-4 win over the Sharks.
The Sharks will await the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Sunday, May 11 at 10:00pm.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Baseball team took down Eckerd in an SSC series opener on Friday evening from the NSU Baseball Complex. NSU was led by a grand slam from Zeth Rodriguez.
Records: Nova Southeastern 27-17, 17-11 SSC | Eckerd 17-29, 5-22 SSC Score: Nova Southeastern 4 | Eckerd 0 Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_Baseball
BOT 3rd – With the bases loaded, Zeth Rodriguez stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam to left field, putting the Sharks up 4-0.
Stellar pitching from NSU kept the pressure on Eckerd, ultimately securing the 4-0 SSC victory for the Sharks.
The Sharks will return to the field on Saturday, May 9 for a doubleheader matchup with Eckerd at the NSU Baseball Complex in the last series of the regular season. The Sharks will celebrate senior day tomorrow, with festivities beginning at 12:40 p.m. First-pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks Baseball team salvaged its Sunshine State Conference series with a 5-4 victory over Barry in the finale on Sunday afternoon at Feinbloom Field.
Records: Nova Southeastern 26-17, 16-11 SSC | Barry 26-21, 14-13 SSC Score: Nova Southeastern 5 | Barry 4 Location: Feinbloom Field | Miami Shores, Fla. Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_Baseball
Barry took a 2-0 lead over the Sharks with a two-run single in the bottom of the second inning.
Tyson Cooper got NSU on the scoreboard with an RBI single, driving in Zeth Rodriguez, putting the score at 2-1.
Nova Southeastern tied the game on an RBI single by Rodriguez in the top of the fourth.
The score remained dead-locked at 2-2 until the top of the seventh inning, when NSU plated a pair of runs to take a 4-2 lead.
Rodriguez scored the go-ahead run for the Sharks, his second run of the game, on a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Cainzos, before Justin Wachs drove in Jorge Braceras providing an insurance run.
The Buccaneers scored a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings, tying the game at 4-4.
Cainzos added a solo home run, giving the Sharks a 5-4 advantage in the top of the ninth.
Michael Dillon pitched the final 2.1 innings, earning his first win of the season.
Nova Southeastern hosts Eckerd in the final weekend of the regular season with a three-game Sunshine State Conference series at the NSU Baseball Complex beginning on Friday, May 9th. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Baseball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_Baseball.
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – In the second game of the Sunshine State Conference series between the Nova Southeastern Sharks and the Barry Buccaneers, NSU was defeated 5-4 on Saturday evening at Feinbloom Field.
Records: Nova Southeastern 25-17, 15-11 SSC | Barry 26-20, 14-12 SSC Score: Nova Southeastern 4 | Barry 5 Location: Feinbloom Field | Miami Shores, Fla. Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_Baseball
Jorge Braceras gave NSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, driving in Henry Wallen with an RBI single. Boris Pena extended the Sharks’ advantage with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Bryan Loriga and Wallen each recorded an RBI base hit in the top of the fifth inning, pushing the Nova Southeastern lead to 4-0 over Barry. The Buccaneers flipped the game in the bottom half of the frame, recording five hits and scoring five runs, taking a 5-4 lead over NSU. Nova Southeastern was unable to muster any offense in the final four innings, dropping the SSC contest 5-4 to the Buccaneers.
The Sharks and Buccaneers will conclude their three-game Sunshine State Conference series on Sunday, May 5th, at Feinbloom Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – In a pivotal match-up between two programs battling for postseason positioning, the Nova Southeastern Sharks Baseball team saw their seven-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Barry Buccaneers with a 7-5 loss on Friday evening at Feinbloom Field.
Records: Nova Southeastern 25-16, 15-10 SSC | Barry 25-20, 13-12 SSC Score: Nova Southeastern 5 | Barry 7 Location: Fienbloom Field | Miami Shores, Fla. Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_Baseball
The Sharks started the scoring in the top of the first inning, as Justin Wachs scored on a balk.
In the top of the second inning, Boris Pena scored on a double play and extended NSU’s lead to 2-0.
Barry plated five runs in the bottom half of the third inning, putting the score at 5-2.
Landon Lowe helped the Sharks cut into the Buccaneers lead, driving in Pena with an RBI ground-out.
Barry scored another two runs in the bottom of the sixth, extending their lead to 7-3.
Wachs came through with an RBI single, scoring Lowe, putting the score at 7-4 in the top of the seventh inning.
Zeth Rodriguez added another RBI base hit for the Sharks, cutting the deficit to 7-5, but that was all the offense NSU could muster as the Sharks were defeated in the series opener.
NSU returns to action with game two of the three game Sunshine State Conference series on Saturday, May 4th, at Feinbloom Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Baseball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_Baseball.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Tuesday evening’s baseball game between the Nova Southeastern Sharks and Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish has been canceled due to inclement weather.
NSU returns to action on Friday, May 3rd, in Sunshine State Conference action against the Barry Buccaneers. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Baseball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_Baseball.
(GAME ONE) 
