Argos Fall to Sharks 5-2 in First Round at NCAA South Region Tournament

May 17, 2012

Blake Barber was 2-4 with a run and a RBI in UWF's loss to NSU (Photo by Bill Stockland)

TAMPA, Fla. – After a four hour delay due to water on the field the West Florida baseball team took on Nova Southeastern in round one at the NCAA South Region Tournament. The Argonauts fell in the contest 5-2 dropping their overall record to 34-18 on the year.

In the first inning the Sharks loaded the bases with two away after an Argonaut fielding error but Josh Tanksi (Apopka, Fla./Pensacola State College (Lake Brantley) was able to get out of the jam unharmed. Tanski would settle in to retire 10 of his next 11 batters.

Nova Southeastern’s offense came to life in the top of the sixth inning. Back-to-back base hits to start the inning off followed by a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with one out. Back-to-back RBI at bats followed by a double down the left field line and two RBI single through the left side of the infield put the Sharks in front 4-0.

UWF scratched across their first run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Blake Barber (LaGrange, Ga./Shelton State CC (Troup HS) singled to lead the inning off and later came around to score on a Dustin Saulmon (Panama City, Fla./Alabama Southern CC (A. Crawford Mosley HS) sacrifice fly, cutting into the Sharks lead 4-1. NSU answered back in the top of the ninth crossing another run, 5-1, on a single though the right side of the infield.

The Argos rallied in the ninth inning putting runners on first and second with no one out. With one away Barber ripped an RBI double into the right field corner to cut into NSU’s lead 5-2 but was not enough as the Sharks would hold on to win.

Tanski received the loss for UWF allowing four runs on six hits in six innings of work. Ben Bridges followed out of the bullpen on hurled three innings allowing one run on two hits while fanning two. NSU’s Zachary Westcott picked up the win allowing one run on six hits through seven innings.

Offensively UWF was led by Josh Huggins (Bay Minette, Ala./Faulkner State CC (Baldwin County HS), Garrett Flynn (Davie, Fla./Sagemont Upper School) and Barber. Huggins was 2-3 with a walk, Flynn was 2-4 and Barber was 2-4 with a run and a RBI.

West Florida will play Tampa Friday May 18 at 1:15 p.m. ET in round two at the NCAA South Region Tournament. For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.