Tampa, Fla. (Mar. 13, 2010)  The Nova Southeastern University baseball team was defeated 21-7 by #16 University of Tampa in Sunshine State Conference baseball action on Saturday evening at the UT Baseball Field. The loss drops the Sharks to 9-12 overall and 1-3 in SSC play while Tampa improves to 20-5 and 4-0 in SSC play.

Tampa struck for two runs in the bottom of the first inning on an NSU error, a walk and a single. The Spartans exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the second inning on eight hits, including a grand slam by second baseman Brad Roberts and a three run homer by right fielder Larry Walicki. Meanwhile, the Sharks bats were held silent as NSU went 1-2-3 in the first three innings at the plate.

Nova Southeastern scored three times in the top of the fourth inning on three hits. The big hit of the inning was a two-out RBI double by right fielder Brayan Valencia (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.). Tampa answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

The Sharks scored a run on a solo home run over the centerfield field by catcher Haven FitzSimmonds (Jr., Loxahatchee, Fla.).

NSU junior shortstop Luis Penate (Miami, Fla.) singled home a run with a RBI single in the top of the seventh inning. Nova Southeastern had scored two more runs in the top of the seventh on a bases loaded walk by catcher Matt Fisher (Sr., Sunrise, Fla.) and a RBI groundout by center fielder Matt Seese (Jr., Ocala, Fla.).

Third baseman Rhys Roberts (Sr., Parkland, Fla.) had three hits while Penate, FitzSimmonds second baseman Blake Boyd (Fr., Jupiter, Fla.) each had two hits in the game for NSU.

Starter Nick Avila (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) took the loss, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits in one and one-third innings pitched. AJ Pinera earned the win for Tampa, pitching five innings and allowing four earned runs.

The Sharks and Spartans conclude their series with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 14th at the UT Baseball Field.