Fernandez Garners ABCA All-Region Honors

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The accolades continue to roll in for Nova Southeastern baseball’s second-year junior outfielder, Adan Fernandez, as officials from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced his selection among the association’s ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region First Team. This marks the third All-Region nod this season for the Miramar native and second first-team honor – also the first for the Sharks since 2018.
 
Despite the shortened season, Fernandez put up big numbers for the Sharks in his second partial season since transfering from FIU. In only 25 games, Fernandez registered an .802 slugging percentage thanks to five doubles and 11 home runs – which ranks second in the Sunshine State Conference and 14th per game in the NCAA. Fernandez tied for the team lead with a .360 batting average and 31 hits, as well as pacing the Sharks with 25 RBI – all ranking among the SSC’s Top-6 – and logging the second-most NSU runs at 21. He recorded a team-high nine multi-RBI games on the season. Racking up a .486 on-base percentage, Fernandez also coaxed out a team-leading 16 walks on the year. Defensively, he proved perfect on 36 chances in left field.
 
Fernandez was named to the All-SSC First Team and the NCBWA All-Region First Team, with All-Region honors from the D2CCA as well. He’s currently based of New Jersey with the Trenton Thunder as a member of the inaugural field of players in the MLB Draft League.
 
The All-Region teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America Committee. The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 13,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.
 
To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.
 

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Schissler Highlights Three D2CCA All-Region Selections

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball team added further honors with the announcement of the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-Region teams for the 2021 season. Second-year freshman Stephen Schissler headlines the group with a first-team utility nod, while Tyler Epstein and Adan Fernandez each receive second-team honors.

A starting outfielder by primary 2021 nature, Stephen Schissler (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) started 19 of his 21 field appearances in center field for the Sharks and was named the D2CCA first-team All-Region Utility Pitcher. He batted .295 with five doubles, four home runs, 14 runs and 13 RBI – logging a .574 slugging percentage and also successfully stealing on 5-of-6 attempts. In the outfield, he was a perfect 1.000 on 68 defensive chances. Schissler rotated to the mound in four relief appearances, going 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA, striking out eight opponents in 8.1 innings and holding batters to just .194 hitting.

Named the Sunshine State Conference 2021 Freshman of the Year with SSC first team and NCBWA All-Region first team honors already under his belt, for D2CCA Tyler Epstein adds a second-team All-Region nod at Shortstop. Epstein (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was high school teammates with Schissler and batted .360 in 2021, also ranking second in the SSC with a .496 on-base percentage. Epstein collected four doubles, two triples and four home runs out of his 31 hits, bringing in 22 runs on top of his 24 scores. He also notched eight stolen bases. In the field at shortstop, Epstein had a .950 fielding percentage, pacing the team with 62 assists on top of 34 putouts, playing a part in 14 of the Sharks’ 19 double plays.

Also earning first team All-SSC and NCBWA All-Region first team accolades, Adan Fernandez collects D2CCA All-Region second team honors as an outfielder. Also batting .360, Fernandez (Miramar, Fla.) finished the season ranked second in the SSC with 11 home runs and five doubles out of his 31 hits. He led the Sharks with 25 RBI, scored 21 times and paced NSU with 16 walks to aid the tally on a .486 on-base percentage. On defense, he was perfect on 36 chances in left field. His 2021 efforts earned him a slot among the exclusive inaugural roster selections in the MLB Draft League, playing right now in the northeast.

To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.

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Fernandez and Williams Selected for MLB Draft League Rosters

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – As 29 members of the Nova Southeastern baseball team embark this month toward their summer league destinations, a pair of Sharks have earned an unprecedented opportunity as roster selections to play in the inaugural MLB Draft League. Both junior outfielder Adan Fernandez and senior pitcher JP Williams will have the chance to increase their visibility while showcasing their skills with the Trenton Thunder.
 
Operating very much like the schedule Major League players work in, the MLB Draft League schedule will consist of six games per week after the opening stretch of 14 consecutive dates through June 7. In its entirety, there will be 68 games, 34 home and away, for each club. The championship game is scheduled to be played August 15.
 
Per the official site of the MLB Draft LeagueDraft League participants will receive unprecedented visibility to MLB Club scouts through both in-person observation and state-of-the-art scouting technology, and educational programming designed to prepare them for careers as professional athletes. 
 
The NSU pair are members of a group of only 32 players nationwide from NCAA Division II selected for the inaugural season’s rosters in the league. The 2021 MLB draft is Sunday, July 11 and roughly a month behind its normal schedule.
 
Fernandez was a steady leader in left field for the Sharks over the past two seasons and earned NCBWA All-Region First Team and All-SSC First Team honors for his 2021 efforts. He tied for the team lead with a .360 average across NSU’s 25 games this year, collecting 31 hits, including five doubles and 11 home runs for a phenomenal .802 slugging percentage. He also topped NSU with 16 walks, logging a .486 on-base percentage. The Miramar junior led NSU with 25 RBI and scored 21 times himself. In the field, he was perfect in 36 chances with a 1.000 fielding percentage. In his two years with the Sharks, he’s batting a solid .363 with 62 hits, 12 doubles, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 35 runs and 10 stolen bases in 46 games.
 
Williams was the key weekend starter for the Sharks in 2021, earning NCBWA All-Region honorable mention and All-SSC First Team honors after going 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA through seven starts. A right-hander from Melbourne, Williams struck out 44 opponents with only 15 walks in 42.2 innings for the Sharks this season, limiting the opposition to .236 batting. After starting out as a powerful closer for NSU, Williams settled into the starting role across the past two shortened seasons, closing his NSU career with an 8-3 record, 3.15 ERA, two saves and 110 strikeouts versus 29 walks in 103 innings for Nova Southeastern. He takes over the top spot in NSU’s record books for hits per nine innings (8.1) and second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.6).
 
With both Sharks at the Trenton Thunder, the club will play its games at Rider University’s Sonny Pittaro Field. The Thunder’s first game at Rider will be May 26 against the Williamsport Crosscutters.
 
To view the full league schedule, visit MLB Draft League.
 
To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.
 

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Three Sharks Named to NCBWA All-Region Teams

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Three members of the Nova Southeastern baseball team have earned spots on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-South Region teams, officials from the organization announced on Friday afternoon. Outfielder Adan Fernandez highlights the honorees with a first-team bid, while shortstop Tyler Epstein receives second-team honors and starting pitcher JP Williams earns honorable mention.

“Well-deserved recognition for our young men who stepped up throughout this year in spite of challenging times,” head coach Laz Gutierrez said. “It’s outstanding to see their skills, hard work and commitment to their teammates and this program being rewarded. Congratulations to Adan, Tyler and JP for on this impressive honor.”
 
Tied with Tyler Epstein with a team-leading .360 batting average, Adan Fernandez (junior/Miramar, Fla.) was a keystone for the 2021 Sharks in left field, ranking second in the Sunshine State Conference with 11 home runs on the year, listing at 60th in the NCAA for total homers and 14th nationally per game. Fernandez was fourth in the SSC with a team-leading 25 RBI, scoring 21 times himself, thanks to a .486 on-base percentage – 17 of his team-leading 31 hits in play as extra base hits, including five doubles, as well as a team-high 16 walks. Fernandez paced the SSC and ranked 29th in the NCAA with an .802 slugging percentage. On defense, he was perfect on 36 chances in left field. For his 2021 efforts, Fernandez was named to the All-SSC first team among last week’s NSU conference honors.

Also a member of the All-SSC first team, Epstein (freshman/Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was just named the SSC Freshman of the Year and now adds All-Region second team honors to the growing awards stash. Epstein tied with the team-leading .360 average and ranked second in the SSC on a .496 on-base percentage. In addition, he appeared among the SSC Top-5 in runs scored (24) and hits (31) – leading the conference and ranking 24th nationally per game as a hit batsman (0.40). A versatile hitter, Epstein racked up four doubles, two triples and four home runs, bringing in 22 runs on top of his 24 scores. Epstein also collected the second most steals for the Sharks with eight thefts. In the field at shortstop, Epstein had a .950 fielding percentage, pacing the team with 62 assists on top of 34 putouts, playing a part in 14 of the Sharks’ 19 double plays.

Another Sharks All-SSC first-teamer, senior right-handed starting pitcher JP Williams (Melbourne, Fla.) receives All-Region honorable mention after going 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA this season, striking out a team-high 44 batters with only 15 walks in 42.2 innings – earning an SSC fifth-best 1.24 WHIP and limiting opponents to .236 batting.

To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.
 

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SSC Freshman of the Year Epstein Highlights Six NSU Conference Honors

MELBOURNE, Fla. – For the second consecutive awarding year, a player from Nova Southeastern baseball has been named the Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year, as officials from the conference office announced Tyler Epstein as the 2021 honoree on Thursday. A second-year freshman for the Sharks, Epstein highlights six conference honors for NSU this season, with Adan Fernandez, JP Williams and Stephen Schissler also receiving recognition for their efforts.
 
“This group of young men proved to be resilient, mature and a great example to others,” second-year head coach Laz Gutierrez said. “During uncertain and difficult days, they worked hard and were committed to each other on a daily basis. It was showcased on the field of play and in the classroom, as the team earned a historic 3.25 GPA – the highest team GPA in program history. On an individual basis, I would like to congratulate Tyler on a well-deserved honor as Freshman of the Year. JP and Adan were difference-makers and it’s great to see that effort recognized in the league. And to get two young guys in Tyler and Stephen on the defensive team only means great things for our future.”

Coming out of Pembroke Pines and Charles W. Flanagan High School during a challenging time that really saw his freshman campaign split across two seasons, Epstein was a consistent performer all-around. His 2021 season sealed off the award, finishing the regular season with a .360 batting average, tying him for the team lead and seventh in the SSC. Epstein ranked second in the SSC for on-base percentage (.496) and also ranked Top-5 in the league in runs scored (24), and hits (31) – leading the conference and ranking 24th nationally per game as a hit batsman (0.40). In 25 games for the Sharks this year, Epstein registered four doubles, two triples and four home runs, accounting for 22 RBI. He also stole the second-most bases for NSU, going 8-for-10 on the basepath. Epstein is the second consecutive NSU player to be named SSC Freshman of the Year and the fourth overall, following up the 2019 award for Duncan Pastore. In 2020, with only 19 starts before COVID-19 brought the season to an immediate halt, Epstein batted .367 with 29 hits, 16 runs, nine RBI and nine stolen bases. Earlier in the year, Epstein recorded his first SSC Player of the Week honors after hitting .588 (10-for-17) versus Rollins, also being named NCBWA Regional Player of the Week.
 
Co-leader with Epstein for team-high average and joining him on the All-SSC First Team, junior Adan Fernandez (Miramar, Fla.) batted .360, ranking second in the SSC with 11 home runs, which places him 60th in the NCAA overall and 14th in the nation in homers per game. Fernandez paced the team with an SSC fourth-best 25 RBI, thanks to a league-leading (29th nationally) .802 slugging percentage. On top of the homers, he chipped in six doubles and scored 21 times. Reaching base at an NSU second-best .486 on-base percentage, Fernandez tied for a team-high 16 walks and made the most of the opportunities, stealing bases at a perfect 4-for-4. In the field, he was also perfect on 36 putouts in left field for 1.000 fielding percentage. Fernandez was awarded the final SSC Player of the Week Award after hitting .500 with four home runs in the three-game Florida Southern series last week.
 
Also appearing on the first team for the Sharks, senior right-handed starting pitcher JP Williams (Melbourne, Fla.) closed out his NSU career with a stalwart season on the mound. Williams led all NSU starters with a 3-0 record and a 3.38 ERA, striking out a team-high (sixth SSC) 44 batters in a team-most 42.2 innings (eighth SSC), while only walking 15 batters with an SSC fifth-best 1.24 WHIP. Williams held opponents to just .236 batting on the year and .240 on his career. In his time at NSU, Williams notched 110 strikeouts and only 29 walks in 103 innings. He’ll take the top spot in NSU’s record books for hits per nine innings (8.1) and second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.6). He finishes his time as a Shark with an 8-3 career record and 3.15 career ERA.
 
Representing NSU on the inaugural SSC All-Defensive Team, Epstein receives recognition for his efforts after shifting over to shortstop the whole year after the first series. He logged a .950 fielding percentage, recording 62 assists and 34 putouts on the year, making his mark with a part in a team-leading 14 double plays – for which the Sharks rank second in the SSC and 30th nationally per game this season (0.76) with 19 on the year. Also earning his first SSC honors, second-year freshman outfielder Stephen Schissler was also named to the SSC All-Defensive Team. Taking up his slot in center field with 19 starts in 24 games, Schissler was a perfect 1.000 fielding on 68 putouts this season, including some highlight-reel dives that silenced opponent rallies. At the plate, Schissler went .295 with five doubles, four homers, 13 RBI and 14 runs, stealing five bases. Schissler also hails from Pembroke Pines and was Epstein’s teammate in high school as well.
 
The Sharks finished the season with a 13-12 record and 11-12 mark in SSC play during the second-consecutive COVID-shortened season.
 
Winning the other top awards for the conference, Vaun Brown from Florida Southern College was named the SSC Player of the Year, Jordan Leasure from University of Tampa earns Pitcher of the Year and the SSC baseball coaches selected Tampa’s Joe Urso as Coach of the Year for the 13th time in his career.
 
To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.
 
 

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Fernandez Collects Final 2021 SSC Player of the Week Award

MELBOURNE, Fla. – For the fourth and final time this season, a member of the Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball team has earned weekly conference honors. In the final round of accolades, this Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week honor goes to Sharks’ left fielder Adan Fernandez, influenced by his proficiency hitting the long ball during NSU’s weekend series against Florida Southern.
 
A Miramar, Fla. second-year junior, Fernandez earns SSC Player of the Week honors following his efforts in the three-game set against Florida Southern. Fernandez went 5-for-10 at the plate with four home runs, six runs batted in, five runs scored and four walks. His top game of the series came in game two, where he hammered a career-first two home runs and drew a pair of walks. The outfielder had a hit, run scored, and two RBI in each game. For the week, Fernandez slashed .500/.615./1.700 against the Moccasins.
 
This is Fernandez’ first career honor and the fourth for NSU this season. The Sharks finished the shortened 25-game 2021 slate with a 13-12 record and 11-12 mark in SSC games.
 
To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.
 

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Sharks Baseball Closes Out 2021 Slate with Senior Day Doubleheader

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball team took on its final regular season weekend on Saturday, also honoring five seniors not returning for next season; Brady Acker, Bryan Diaz, Andrew Labosky, Joe Smeton and JP Williams. However, the Sharks weren’t able to come away from Saturday’s doubleheader with a victory after falling in the extras to end the first game, then falling behind late in the second contest to end the 2021 regular season at 13-12.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game 1 Final Score: (10) Florida Southern – 5, Nova Southeastern – 4
Game 2 Final Score: Florida Southern – 12, Nova Southeastern – 3
Records: Nova Southeastern (13-12, 11-12 SSC), Florida Southern (15-11, 14-10 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter – @NSU_Baseball | Instagram – @NSU_Baseball | Facebook – /NSUBaseball
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Sharks took an early advantage on the day as Adan Fernandez lifted yet another first-inning home run beyond the left field fence – a solo shot for the opening-frame 1-0 lead.
 
However, despite having senior ace JP Williams on the bump for game one right behind the Senior Day ceremony, the Moccasins were quick to counter, as a fielding error created trouble for the Sharks. With an unearned runner aboard, Santini Miozzi singled past a diving third baseman for an RBI to knot the score. Vaun Brown followed with the go-ahead RBI single, going the opposite direction to push FSC ahead 2-1.
 
After Williams and FSC starter Jarrod Cande combined to keep the board blank for the next two frames, Jacob Teter found the right pitch to take out of right field for FSC in the fifth.
 
Responding in the bottom of the sixth, again it was Fernandez, belting another homer out of left field for his first career multi-homer day on another solo shot. As Williams’ day drew to a close in the seventh, the Mocs reached the board again, after a leadoff triple set the table. Following a pitching change with two runners aboard, relieving Williams with Ryan Bradarich, a catcher cross-up allowed Dylan Costa’s score on a wild pitch.
 
Another key senior play was delivered in the bottom of the frame, as Andrew Labosky went yard on a two-out, two-run shot to left center to tie the game at 4-all. However, it also prompted Florida Southern to go to the bullpen for J.J. Niekro and stop the Sharks’ scoring.
 
Pushed to extras for the first time this season – for either team – the Mocs capitalized on another uncharacteristic error, as Nicholas Wells pulled a double deep to outer left field to score the game-winning run. After a leadoff single, Mocs second baseman Costa got a great jump on Daniel Irisarri’s contact and shut the door with a game-ending double play.
 
Despite the final scoring margin of the second game, the Mocs crept along most of the game, and the Sharks kept pace right at their heels, but a big inning late broke the dam.
 
FSC took the first lead, using a wind-aided triple to outer right field to set the table and knock an NSU outfielder out of the game after the diving catch attempt. Connor Berry grounded out to plate Zach Scott as the next batter. In the fourth, Berry used a pair of errors to give the Mocs two more on the board with a two-run bloop single into the real estate behind first base.
 
The Sharks showed great plate patience and loaded up the bases on walks in the home half, with Bryce Hazzard collecting an RBI walk that scored Labosky. However, Florida Southern quelled a golden Sharks opportunity, stranding three runners.
 
The fifth inning saw a see-saw battle featuring a Brown two-run homer in the top half, and Fernandez’ third home run of the doubleheader, for two runs, in the home frame, keeping the Sharks within striking distance on the 5-3 deficit.
 
However, in the final frame, it was the Florida Southern offense that delivered, racking up seven runs against four different NSU pitchers to open up the gates and close the series on a 12-3 win.
 
ABOUT THE SENIORS
Brady Acker has been a steady starter for the Sharks this season after battling back from past injury, going 2-5 in seven starts this year with a 4.80 ERA and 26 strikeouts. Coming out of Tamarac and Taravella High School by way of Chipola College, Acker made 26 appearances with 23 starts, notching a 10-6 record and 3.95 ERA. He collected 131 strikeouts in 125.1 innings. His ERA ranks seventh in NSU career history, he’s fourth in walks per nine innings (3.4) and third in strikeouts per nine innings (9.4), fanning nearly a quarter of the batters he faced. Acker was on the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and graduates this semester with a degree in General Studies.
 
Bryan Diaz arrived from Miami Lake and Monsignor Edward Pace High School. In four total seasons with the Sharks as an outfielder, he’s started 65 of his 87 games, batting .276 with 63 hits, including 10 doubles, four triples and four home runs. Diaz batted in 44 runs and scored 49 of this own, also stealing 11 bases. A three-time member of the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Diaz was named the 2021 Ultimate Shark at the Sharky’s Awards and graduates this semester with his degree in Exercise and Sport Science before taking on fire school in the summer.
 
Andrew Labosky also came from Taravella High School out of Coral Springs for the 2017 season – and has played nearly every position aside from stepping on the mound for the Sharks. He’s racked up 132 games with 105 starts and was a 2019 All-SSC and All-Region performer. Labosky has batted .307 with 126 career hits, including 30 doubles and nine home runs – as well as 73 walks to rank seventh in the all-time NSU records. He’s scored 98 times and batted in 75 runs, reaching base at a .417 clip with a .450 slugging percentage. He collected 33 stolen bases as a Shark to take up eighth on the NSU career records list. Named to the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Rolle, Labosky earned his undergraduate degree last May in Exercise and Sport Science and will complete his Master’s Degree in Sport Science this December.
 
Joe Smeton was the one to finally get the Sharks out of the seventh-inning jam tonight and came to NSU from the furthest distance initially, hailing from Abingdon, Maryland by way of Harford Community College. The elder southpaw, he’s made 16 appearances with a 1-0 record and 5.69 ERA, making seven strikeouts in 12.2 innings. He was a member of the last SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and graduates this semester with his degree in Environmental Science Studies.
 
JP Williams came to NSU from Melbourne and Eastern Florida State College, transforming for clutch closer to prime starter for the Sharks. He made 30 appearances with 12 starts, garnering an 8-3 record with two saves, one complete game shutout and a 3.15 ERA to rank fourth in the NSU career records. He’s struck out over a quarter of the batters he’s faced, holding them to .238 hitting with 110 strikeouts and only 29 walks in 103 innings. He’ll take the top spot for NSU’s hits per nine innings (8.1) and second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.6). He graduates this semester with a degree in marketing.

To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.
 

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Sharks Score Early and Often in Series-Opening Victory Over Florida Southern

LAKELAND, Fla. – Aided by a stalwart close-out pitching performance by Jeremy Cook, the Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball team carried an early lead to victory, defeating the Florida Southern Moccasins, 11-7, to open their final Sunshine State Conference series of the pandemic-shortened 2021 regular season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Nova Southeastern – 11, Florida Southern – 7
Records: Nova Southeastern (13-10, 11-10 SSC), Florida Southern (13-11, 12-10 SSC)
Location: Henley Field, Lakeland, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter – @NSU_Baseball | Instagram – @NSU_Baseball | Facebook – /NSUBaseball
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Sharks gained the upper hand from the beginning and never looked back, leading off the game with back-to-back hit batters and a walk that loaded the bases before a single out was recorded. Alex Hernandez brought in the first runs of the game with two coming home on a misplayed grounder by the shortstop, then Daniel Irisarri recorded the first hit of the game, a double in the right-center field gap to score two more.

NSU kept it going into the second inning, with Tyler Epstein swatting his fourth home run of the season, a one-out solo shot. After a pair of walks, Alex Hernandez hit a ball that would have brought both runners home had it not bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double – he settled for the one RBI and for the team’s 6-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, starter Cooper Omans was pitching through traffic, stranding two baserunners in each of the first two innings, working around a pair of two-out singles in the first and a leadoff double and a fielder’s choice in which he attempted to get the lead runner at second. However, his luck ran out in the third when the Mocs collected three straight singles to load the bases, bringing them all in on a Connor Berry triple to right-center and Cade Shissler sacrifice fly that cut the lead down to just two runs.

The Sharks offense got right back to work in the fourth. Epstein doubled just inside the third base bag and down the line, coming around to score on Andrew Labosky’s RBI single. Adan Fernandez followed with his team-best eighth homer of the year to put the Sharks back up by a more comfortable 9-4 margin. Alex Steinbach added another double to chase Mocs starter Nathan Madej from the game, after allowing three walks, three hit batters, and eight hits – including four doubles and two homers – in addition to the nine runs. Two more walks loaded the bases, but they were all stranded there on a groundout to end the inning.

Carlos Rey came on to pitch for the bottom of the inning and Florida Southern swipped a couple runs back on a two-out, two-run Jacob Teter homer, but Stephen Schissler immediately answered back for the Sharks with a leadoff solo shot of his own. NSU had a chance for more with runners on first and second and one out, but a double play ended that threat, leaving the Sharks ahead, 10-6, at the game’s midway point.

The Sharks added what would prove to be their last run of the game in the sixth thanks to Irisarri, who walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Adam Smith’s sacrifice fly. In the meantime, Rey was doing his part to keep the Mocs at bay, leaving the bases full in both the fifth and sixth innings – the latter after allowing just one run in when the first three batters of the inning all reached base, but he got a timely groundout back to himself, opting for the runner at home, and a strikeout to escape the jam.

Surprisingly, after a combined 40 baserunners for the two teams in the first six innings – 22 for the Sharks (10 hits, eight walks, three hit batters, and one error) and 18 for the Mocs (14 hits, two walks, one hit batter, and one fielder’s choice) – 20 of them left on base without a single 1-2-3 inning, the final three frames saw just three baserunners total; a walk for the Sharks in the seventh, an NSU single in the eighth, a seventh-inning Moccasin single and a combined streak of 12 straight batters retired to end the game. On the mound for the Sharks, that was all because of the great work done by Jeremy Cook, who allowed the single to the first batter he faced, then sent the next nine away in order to shut the door on any potential late-inning comeback with the three-inning save.
 
STATS OF THE DAY

  • The Sharks put up double-digit runs for the seventh time this season and the third time in the last four games.
  • Tyler Epstein, Andrew Labosky, and Adan Fernandez, out of the top three spots in the Sharks’ batting order, combined for eight of the 11 runs scored.
  • Eight different players had at least one hit for the Sharks, but the total of 11 was well spread out, in true team fashion, with no player having more than two.
  • Seven of the 11 hits went for extra bases, with their four doubles and three home runs both matching season highs.
  • Epstein, Labosky, and Alex Hernandez had the team’s three two-hit performances. For Epstein, who had both a double and a home run, it marked his first multi-extra-base hit outing since the first game of the doubleheader at Rollins on April 10, while Hernandez has three multi-hit games in a row and Labosky has four in his last five appearances.
  • Labosky also extended his on-base streak to 11 consecutive games, one short of Adan Fernandez, who reached safely in the first 12 games of the season, for longest on the team.
    • Labosky’s fifth-inning stolen base makes him a perfect 12-for-12 on the season, extending his string of success to 13 in a row dating back to last season, the last time he was caught being February 29, 2020 during the Embry-Riddle series.
  • Jeremy Cook’s performance was the best of his career, and an impressive rebound from a rocky outing at Saint Leo last week. It was his second (and longest) scoreless outing as a Shark, and his five strikeouts set a new season-high, his most since February 6 of last year, when he struck out six in four innings vs. Colorado Mesa, the second appearance of his career. It also gives him two three-inning saves on the year, the first coming in that same half of the Rollins doubleheader on April 10.

 
UP NEXT
The Mocs will make the return trip for Saturday’s regular-season finale doubleheader, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 P.M. and the Sharks’ Senior Day ceremonies taking place shortly beforehand with a 1:30 p.m. start to the presentatio for five outgoing Sharks: Brady Acker, Bryan Diaz, Andrew Labosky, Joe Smeton and JP Williams.

To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.

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Epstein Keys Offensive Onslaught in 13-4 Victory Over Saint Leo

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Tyler Epstein set the tone with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning, paving the way for an eventual offensive explosion, as Nova Southeastern cruised to a 13-4 win over Saint Leo in game one of the Sunshine State Conference series Wednesday evening. One of five Sharks to tally multiple hits, Epstein finished the ball game with three runs batted in and four runs scored in the effort, while Cooper Omans tossed five solid innings to improve to 2-1 on the mound this season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Nova Southeastern – 13, Saint Leo – 4
Records: Nova Southeastern (11-9, 9-9 SSC). Saint Leo (7-15, 6-14 SSC)
Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter – @NSU_Baseball | Instagram – @NSU_Baseball | Facebook – /NSUBaseball

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Epstein greeted Saint Leo starter Jestin Jones by launching his third home run of the season over the wall in left center just two pitches into the bottom of the first, setting the tone for a huge offensive day, not just for himself, but the Sharks as a unit.
 
That early score was most definitely foreshadowing of things to come for the Sharks. After Omans escaped a couple jams in the opening innings, NSU tacked on two more runs in the home half of the third thanks to an Epstein RBI-single up the middle and an Andrew Labosky sacrifice fly to deep center.  
 
The Lions erased the shutout in the top of the fourth, yet NSU quickly responded in the bottom of the inning by sending all nine batters to the plate. With two runners aboard, Alejandro Macario chipped an RBI up the middle to score Alex Steinbach and open up a huge inning for NSU. Stephen Schissler smacked an RBI double deep down the right field line to plate Daniel Irisarri, coming home to score himself on another Epstein strike, an RBI single into shallow left field. After a pitching change allowed Epstein an opportunity to steal home, Adan Fernandez sealed off the five-run inning with an RBI single to right field that scored Labosky for the 8-1 NSU advantage.
 
The Sharks were hardly content up by seven runs, tacking up another pair in the fifth, beginning with Alex Hernandez’ leadoff dinger beyond left center and closing with Macario’s RBI double just three batters later.
 
As the Sharks began to work into their bullpen after five solid innings from Omans, the Lions began to apply a little pressure. Jake Vander Wal and PJ Barry knocked down a couple of RBI in the sixth and Vander Wal added a homer in the seventh, but that was it for the SLU comeback.
 
After briefly being silenced in the sixth, the Sharks offense reclaimed one run in the seventh with Irisarri scoring on an error. NSU fully reloaded their advantage in the eighth with Epstein scoring on a wild pitch and Jarrett Hall plating Labosky on an RBI single to reach the highest runs for NSU this season at 13.
 
Joe Smeton took the mound in the ninth and worked around a walk to put the Lions away with no damage and finalize the Sharks’ 11th win and a winning opener to this week’s conference series.

STATS OF THE DAY 

  • The Sharks scored in 6-of-8 innings, en route to season highs of 13 runs on 15 hits
  • Dating back to 2014, NSU has now beaten SLU in 18 of the past 19 meetings in the series.  
  • Five NSU players recorded multi-hit performances in the victory – Epstein, Hernandez, Labosky, Macario and Schissler.  
  • Following Wednesday’s five-inning outing, Omans’ earned run average has dipped to 2.67 over the course of 27 combined innings. 
  • Omans earned the win to move his record to 2-1, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
  • With long balls from both Epstein and Hernandez, the Sharks have now registered six multi-homer games this season.
  • A monster game for Epstein after collecting only two hits in the previous four games, today he matched his career high with 4-for-5 batting and four runs scored, setting a new career standard with three RBI.
  • NSU swiped four bases on Wednesday, including three in the five-run fourth inning.  
  • Saint Leo committed five errors in the contest. 

 
UP NEXT
The Sharks and Lions will close out their three-game set with a doubleheader at Saint Leo, scheduled to begin Friday at 3:00 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Instagram or Twitter @NSU_Baseball.   
 
 
 

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Williams Named SSC Baseball Pitcher of the Week

MELBOURNE, Fla. – For the third consecutive week, a member of the Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball team has earned weekly conference honors. Now for the second consecutive week, that honored Shark has been the SSC Baseball Pitcher of the Week, as officials from the conference office named JP Williams for the award following his stellar performance at Lynn over the weekend.
 
The Melbourne, Fla. second-year senior, Williams earns his first career weekly award after tossing his first-ever career nine-inning complete game in a 2-0 shutout of Lynn to be named Pitcher of the Week. Williams scattered five hits with no walks or hit batsmen, holding Lynn to just .161 hitting. He matched his career-high of eight strikeouts while dealing 108 pitches. The performance stands as the first nine-inning complete-game shutout for the program since April 2016.
 
His performance also contributed to the Sharks earning their third SSC series victory of the season. This is also the third honor for the Sharks this season.
 
In his third season since joining the Sharks from Eastern Florida State College, Williams holds a 7-3 record and 2.95 ERA in his 28 appearances with 10 starts. Originally starring in the closing role, Williams has embraced the starting job and has 99 strikeouts in 91.2 innings, holding opponents to .234 batting.
 
The Sharks (10-9) are back on the diamond on Wednesday as hosts to Saint Leo at 3:00 p.m., with Williams and the Sharks then traveling to SLU for a doubleheader with a 3:00 p.m. start on Friday.

To stay up with all the latest with Sharks baseball, follow us on Twitter @NSU_Baseball, on Instagram @NSU_Baseball and on Facebook /NSUBaseball.
 

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