FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Delta State University Statesmen (1-2) fell in both games to No. 22 Nova Southeastern (3-0) on Saturday at the NSU Baseball Complex by final scores 17-6 and 8-2.
GAME ONE
Nova Southeastern got out to an early 2-0 lead in its first at-bat, scoring two runs on two hits, but in the visitor half of the second inning, Delta State used back-to-back hits to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
Dylan Dendy led off with a double to left center and came around to score on an
Andin Johnson RBI single to third base.
The Sharks got the run back in their next at-bat on a solo homerun, extending the lead to 3-2.
Delta State gained its first lead of the day in the top of the fourth, going up 4-3.
Preston Soper doubled to center field, followed by a
Matthew Martinolich RBI groundout to shortstop. With the bases loaded,
Tyler Otts reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Soper and recording his first RBI as a Statesman.
In their next at-bat, DSU extended its lead to 6-4 when Martinolich drew a bases-loaded walk and
Drew Capobianco reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Dendy.
Nova's offense exploded for 14 runs over the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to take a commanding 17-6 lead.
The deficit was too much to overcome, as Delta State fell 17-6.
GAME TWO
DSU struck first in the top of the first inning.
Jacob Hill started things off with a double down the left field line, stole third, and was brought home on a
Dylan Coleman groundout to shortstop. The Statesmen added to their lead, 2-0, the next inning, when Johnson scored on a
Tyler Janos sacrifice fly to center field.
The Sharks answered in the home half of the second inning, scoring three runs on three hits, to take the 3-2 lead. Nova extended its lead in the bottom of the third, 5-2, and again in the bottom of the fifth, 8-2.
Delta State's offense struggled to find momentum in the later innings and fell in game two 8-2.
FROM THE MOUND
Delta State used five hurlers in game one of the doubleheader, but
Christian Clayson (0-1) suffered the loss in relief of starter
Logan Eldridge.
Adrian Byrd (0-1) took the loss in game two, giving up three earned runs and striking out two.
FROM THE BATTERS BOX
Coleman led DSU in game one, going 3-for-5, but Dendy was the run producer, going 1-for-2 with three RBI. Johnson added a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI and one run scored.
The Statesmen were held to four hits in game two: two from
Jacob Hill, and one each from Johnson and
Triston Hickman.
UP NEXT
Delta State wraps up its four-game road trip in Florida with a single game against Lynn University on Sunday, Feb. 2. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. in Boca Raton.
