FT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Emil Ellis,
Brian Lane and
Justin Nussbaum combined for 13 RBIs to lead No 1 Delta State University (1-1) baseball to a 21-10 come from behind win over No 12 Nova Southeastern University (2-1) on Saturday at the NSU Baseball Complex.
The Statesmen erased an early 6-0 deficit with a seven-run fourth inning and then extended an 11-10 lead by adding three runs in the eighth and 10 in the ninth to pull way.
Final Score: No. 1 Delta State 21 No. 12 Nova Southeastern University 10
Date/Time: Sat., Feb. 3, 2018 |
Start 3:03 p.m. |
TOG 4:26
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | NSU Baseball Complex
Records: Statesmen 1-1 | Sharks 2-1
Series: Delta State leads 9-5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nova Southeastern scored six runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-0 lead. Jake Anchia hit a two-run home run followed by RBI doubles from Ian Acevedo, Dominic Diana and Nick Gallo.
- The Statesmen rallied for seven runs, six with two outs, on seven hits to take a 7-6 lead in top of the fourth. Clay Casey scored on Nick Morgan's sac-fly. Jamell Newson worked a walk with the bases loaded to score Emil Ellis and Brian Lane delivered a two-run single. Zack Shannon, Casey and Josh Russell wrapped up the inning with RBI singles.
- Casey reached base on a dropped pop up in the second and later scored when Ellis reached on a throwing error to increase the lead to 8-6.
- Ellis belted a three-run home run with Shannon and Russell aboard to extend the Statesmen lead to 11-6 in the eighth.
- Anchia's second two-run home run of the day highlighted a four-run eighth as the Sharks trimmed the deficit to 11-10.
- The Green-and-White answered with a 10-run ninth to take a commanding 21-10 lead. Lane and Ellis drove in two runs apiece with singles and Justin Nussbaum capped the inning with a grand slam to left.
ON THE MOUND
- Melvin Frazier (1-0) struck out six and allowed one hit through 4.2 innings pitched to earn the win in relief of starter Seth Birdsong.
- Brock Minich (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits but did not record an out in the fourth to take the loss.
- Four Statesmen pitchers combined to strikeout a season-high 13 batters. Birdsong struck out five in 2.1 innings, Frazier notched six and Seth Hoguesen had two strikeouts in an inning of work.
NOTEABLES
- The Statesmen scored 10 of the first 11 runs with two outs and scored 10-runs in the ninth before an out was recorded.
- Ellis was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and a home run while tying a career-high with five RBIs (North Alabama/March 25, 2017).
- Jason Popovich went 3-for-7 with two runs scored, recording his second multi-hit game this season and the 30th for his career.
- Casey went 3-for-7 with two RBIs and Shannon went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI.
- Nussbaum finished 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a grand slam.
- Lane was 2-for-6, tying his career-high with four RBIs (Union/March 5, 2017).
- Payton Lane registered a single in the ninth in first career at bat.
- The win was the first for the Statesmen at the NSU Baseball Complex since an 11-4 win on Feb. 6, 2010, snapping a three-game losing streak. Delta State is now 3-3 overall in the series on the road.
- The Statesmen have won two-straight in the series and are 9-5 all-time against the Sharks.