University Edges North Broward in HSBN Game Of The Week

University walked away victorious in a high-scoring shootout Saturday night, outlasting North Broward Prep 13-12 in an HSBN Broward Game of the Week.

The Suns (12-4-1) improved to 9-1 in 4A-13 as they continued their dominance over their feisty district foes.

The game was squared at 9 going into the seventh inning before the Suns scored four runs to go up 13-9. North Broward Prep rallied in the bottom of the inning with three runs but came up short of the comeback.

“It seemed they always had an answer for us. We just had to fight it out,” University Manager Eddie Tisdale said. “A lot of our district games have been competitive games. It’s important for us to get runners in scoring position and execute when they’re on. We always talk about helping out the next guy at-bat, and tonight we did a great job at that.”

The Suns wasted no time attacking early. Sebastian Diaz singled in the top of the first, and Michael White was hit by a pitch, sending him to first. Evan Klugerman singled, bringing in Diaz. Brenden Mckendry scored White with a single, and Julian Cabrera’s base hit drove in the Suns’ third run of the inning on four hits.

North Broward Prep answered back with a single by Mack Nathanson and a two-run home run by AJ Fidalic.

University continued to hit in the second inning. Daniel Epstein doubled to start the top of the second before Andrew Denis then sent a pitch over the fences. Diaz followed with a solo home run of his own to left center field.

“He threw Andrew a first-pitch curve ball, so I was expecting the same thing, and I got a hold of it for a home run,” Diaz said.

Jake Emery singled in the bottom of the second inning for the Eagles. David Weisman was walked on four pitches before Kevin Thomas’s single loaded the bases for the Eagles. Fidalic swung away and knocked out his second home run of the game, tying the score at 6.

The Suns were able to get runners on base in the fourth inning. White singled to left field, bringing in a run. A Klugerman single brought in two more runs, giving the Suns their third three-run inning.

University held a 9-6 lead, but the Eagles would not go away quietly on their home turf. North Broward Prep scored a run in the fourth and fifth inning, continuing to not give up.

With North Broward down by a run, Nathanson singled up the middle for a base hit in the sixth inning. Hernando Sierra brought in Nathanson on a double up the middle, tying the score at 9.

The game was anyone’s for the taking going into the seventh inning. The Suns’ Mekendry hit a grounder that was mishandled, sending him to first. Cabrera executed a bunt for a base hit, and Adam Sinkoe was walked, loading the bases.

Epstein and the Suns again took advantage of runners in scoring position. Epstein cranked a shot to left-center field, bringing in two runs off a double. Denis was intentionally walked, White smacked a deep shot to left field for a sacrifice fly out, bringing in Sinkoe, and Epstein stole home plate after the Eagles attempted to catch a stealing Denis. The Suns increased the lead to four in the final inning.

North Broward Prep would need to rally back to try to win their 10th game of the year. The Suns walked Chad Fleischman and Edgar Badaraco. Weisman singled, bringing in Fleischman. Thomas was then walked, loading the bases and putting the winning run at the plate. Nathanson belted a deep shot to left center field that bounced off the 20-foot left-field fence, only a few feet short of a walk-off grand slam. Nathanson drove in two runs with his double.

The Suns made a change on the mound to Diaz, his first time on the mound all year. Diaz struck out the first batter for the Suns’ second out, but Sierra was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases for the Eagles. Diaz responded with another strikeout to end the game 13-12.

“I was pretty nervous on the mound,” said Diaz. “but I settled down and felt more relaxed, I wanted to throw my curve ball, and finally they let me throw it and I was able to get the final out with it.”

Eagles Manager Brian Campbell said Nathanson’s hit meant a lot.

“Had Nathanson double traveled a couple more feet, we would be talking about a great comeback instead of a lose, but this game is a game of feet sometimes,” Campbell said. “We didn’t play our best baseball today, and in the end, University wanted it more and they deserve it.”

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