Nova Southeastern scored a run in each of the first three innings and went on to claim a 5-2 win over the Moccasins in the final game of their Sunshine State Conference series at Henley Field Sunday.
Despite the loss, the Moccasins got an amazing performance at the plate from Cory Jensen. After going six-for-seven in the Mocs' doubleheader sweep Saturday, the senior second baseman reached base all five times he batted Sunday with three walks and two hits. For the series he was eight-for-nine (.889) and after grounding out in his first at-bat Saturday, he reached base in his next 12 consecutive plate appearances. He raised his team-leading batting average to .344 and he's hitting .421 in the Moccasins' SSC games.
The seventh-ranked Sharks put their leadoff batter on in each of the first three innings and each one scored. Javi Sujo drove in two of the runs with a first-inning single and a third-inning double.
The Moccasins cut the lead to 3-2 with a pair of fifth-inning runs. J.J. Downum scored from third on an errant pickoff throw by the catcher and Jensen scored on Mike Snyder's single.
Nova picked up insurance runs in the seventh and ninth.
The Moccasins had plenty of scoring chances, as they left 14 runners on base, including one in each of the last four inings.
The game had a bizzare finish in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, T.J. Kuban walked. Colin Kish hit a grounder headed for right field but it hit Kuban, who was declared out on the play, but Kish was credited with his third hit of the game. After Kyle Jackson walked, Kish stepped off second base, thinking time had been called as the Moccasins were sending in Jimmy Perron to run for Jackson. The Sharks' pitcher, Sean Tighe, thinking time had not been called, threw the ball to shortstop Blake Boyd, who tagged Kish out. The base umpire ruled that time had not been called and the game was over.
With the win, Nova improved to 28-8, 9-5 in the SSC. The Moccasins dropped to 23-18, 11-10 in the SSC.
Moccasin starter Jon Jones took the loss, falling to 3-6 on the season. Vinnie Contaldi, who worked 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, got the win, raising his record to 4-1. Tighe recorded his third save.
The Moccasins don't return to action until May 4-5, when they play their final regular season series at Rollins.
