FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Lynn University baseball team took advantage of a big night from both members of the battery on Friday night to earn a series-opening 5-4 win over Nova Southeastern. Starting pitcher Frank Grandinette gave the Fighting Knights their first complete game of the season, while catcher John Silviano went deep twice to help pace the offense.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Lynn 5, Nova Southeastern 4

Records: Lynn (12-8, 4-0 SSC), Nova Southeastern (11-8, 3-1 SSC)

Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Series: NSU leads 49-48

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Nova leadoff man Jancarlos Cintron tripled to open the home first, the first of four Shark hits in the frame. The home nine took a 2-0 lead after back-to-back RBI singles from Daniel Zardon and Michael Hernandez.
• Grandinette helped his own cause with a leadoff double in the second, and Alex Turner turned a payoff pitch into a tie game with his sixth home run of the season.
• A pair of two-out doubles in the bottom of the third put NSU back in front 4-2.
• Silviano punched a solo shot over the wall to open the fourth, cutting the Lynn deficit to one.
• The Lynn backstop struck again two innings later, crushing a ball to center and tying the game at 4-4.
• A two-out base knock from Kyle Schindler plated Miguel Ceballos in the top of the seventh to give the Fighting Knights their first lead of the night.
• Grandinette went all nine innings on the bump, tossing 149 pitches along the way.

QUOTABLE:

• "Today was a test for us, and our guys trusted each other and picked each other up. We don't like to send guys out there for that many pitches, but I could see it in Frank's face tonight. He was locked in and pitched with a lot more rhythm late in the game. We have to keep playing our type of baseball and keep things simple." – Lynn head coach Rudy Garbalosa

STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Turner showed off all the tools at the plate on Friday, posting a perfect 4-for-4 effort that included a homer and a bunt single.
• Grandinette joined Turner and Silviano as the only Fighting Knights with a multi-hit night.
• Cintron and first baseman Andres Visbal each provided the Sharks with three base hits.
• Nova right-hander Alex Mateo was hit with all five runs over seven innings before giving way to the bullpen.
• Cameron Churchill issued a walk and allowed a single before Ronald Patella came on to retire the next five Lynn hitters.
• Alexander Kline was the final Shark arm of the night and retired the only hitter he faced.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Grandinette improved to 4-0 this spring while recording a career-high nine strikeouts.
• Lynn has hit multiple home runs in each conference game this season, leading to an unblemished 4-0 record in those games.
• The Fighting Knights have posted 10 or more hits in 11 of their last 12 contests.

UP NEXT

Lynn and Nova Southeastern are set to wrap up the regular season series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch from NSU Baseball Complex is set to begin at 1:00 pm.