FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Erskine College baseball team (2-4)  defeated Nova Southeastern University (3-2) by a score of 5-0 at the NSU Baseball Complex on Friday evening.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Just a day removed from an outstanding start from Joe Alegre, the Fleet pitching staff carried the momentum into Friday as freshman Alex Heintz began his evening setting down the side in order with a pair of strikeouts. Then, Dale Francis, Jr. led off the second inning with his third home run of the young season to open the scoring. Heintz retired the Sharks in order again in the second and the Fleet offense provided some insurance in the following frame. With two outs in the third, Christian Rivera singled the other way to bring home Josean Sanchez and moments later Francis, Jr. doubled home Rivera to give Erskine a 3-0 lead after three. NSU had its first baserunner of the night in the bottom half, but Heintz followed with his fifth strikeout to put up another zero. In the fourth, the Sharks provided their first real threat with runners and first and second and just one out, but the freshman right-hander bared down and fanned the next two NSU hitters to escape the jam. Heintz had to work out of some trouble again the fifth, but induced a flyout to strand a pair of baserunners in scoring position and preserve a 3-0 lead. In the sixth, the Erskine offense came back to life, starting with a Rivera leadoff single before he eventually came around to score on a balk. A few pitches later, Jorge Pascual lined a base knock into right center field, scoring Francis, Jr. and Erskine had opened up a commanding 5-0 lead. Heintz's day was done after five innings, but he handed the ball off to fellow freshman, Nick Hyde, who continued to stifle the Sharks in the middle innings. NSU loaded the bases in the seventh, but the Fleet called on senior Ira Clifton to put out the fire, and he did just that, as a flyout to right field ended the Sharks' threat. Clifton gave the rest of the bullpen the night off with a dominant performance the rest of the way, retiring all seven batters he faced, including the final five via the strikeout to put finishing touches on a 5-0 victory for the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
In just his second collegiate start of his career, freshman right-hander Alex Heintz tossed five flawless innings for the Fleet. Back in his home state, Heintz surrendered just three hits while not issuing any free passes and recording eight strikeouts as he picked up his first win of his collegiate career.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine wraps up its weekend in the state of Florida with a matchup against Barry University (1-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Fleet powered their way to a 14-8 win over Barry last season, on the strength of four home runs, including a pair of big flies by Juan Jaime.

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