FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University Sharks (26-6, 7-2 SSC) are set to host the biggest series of the year, welcoming the University of Tampa Spartans (24-7, 7-2 SSC) to town for a Sunshine State Conference clash for first place, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. and concluding with a doubleheader on Saturday, set to begin at noon.
 
The series will be a matchup of remarkably similar teams on the offensive side, as NSU leads the in home runs, 36-34, and on-base percentage, .422-.418, while Tampa leads in runs, scoring 271 runs to NSU's 269. Both teams are ranked in the top 16 in the NCAA in all three categories. The Sharks lead the entire NCAA in walks, registering 192 base-on-balls throughout the season. Andres Visbal and Mario Urdaneta are first and second, respectively, in the SSC in the walk category, and second and sixth in the country.
 
Friday night will be a matchup of two of the best pitchers in SSC, as Roberto Baroniel (Sr., Miami, Fla.) will square up against what is likely to be Tampa's David Heintz. Baroniel features an ERA of 3.12, while Heintz boasts a 2.91. Saturday's game one will most likely be a matchup between Alex Mateo (Jr.,Miami, Fla.) and the SSC leader in wins, Tampa's Chase Sparkman. The series will conclude with a dual between Ryan Castellanos (Jr., Davie, Fla.) and Tampa's Brad Hencke.
 
Offensively, NSU continues to be paced by Roche Woodard (Sr., Tampa, Fla.), Mario Urdaneta (Sr., Ocala, Fla.) and Justin Garcia (Jr., Hialeah, Fla.). Urdaneta and Garcia have combined to drive in 26 of NSU's 64 runs against conference opponents, while Woodard leads the team in doubles and steals against conference opponents with five each. The Spartans' offensive attack is led by Stephen Dezzi and Nick Flair. Flair is currently hitting .395 with six home runs and 41 RBI, while Dezzi has smashed eight home runs for a .348 average.

Be sure to tune in to each game, following the links on the schedule page.