FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  – Four Nova Southeastern University pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Sharks defeated visiting Felician University in non-conference baseball action on Saturday evening at the NSU Baseball Complex. Nova Southeastern (8-0) is ranked No. 10 in the most recent NCAA Division II national writers' poll.

Freshman catcher Luis De La Cruz (Jersey City, N.J.) went 2 for 3 for Felician (0-2). Senior Shawn Vazquez (Millville, N.J.) and junior Chris Fernandez (Boca Raton, Fla.) picked up the other Golden Falcon hits. All four Felician safeties were singles.

NSU graduate right-hander Daniel Rivero (Davie, Fla.) (2-0) pitched five innings for the victory. He yielded two his and struck out seven batters. The Shark staff combined for 13 strikeouts and one walk. Adam Frank (Saddle Brook, N.J.) was 2 for 4 and scored twice and Duncan Pastore (Tampa, Fla.) was on base four times and drove in two runs for NSU.

After scoring a single run in the first inning, the Sharks benefited from consecutive bases-loaded walks by the Felician bullpen in the fourth to build a 3-0 edge. Felician's best scoring chance came in the fifth, when, after two were out, De La Cruz singled and Dauri Genao (West New York, N.J.) followed with a walk. Both players moved up on a balk, but Rivero came up with a strikeout to end the threat. NSU took full control with two runs in the sixth and tacked on one in the eighth for the margin.

Junior transfer Wilfrido Valenzuela (Paterson, N.J.) (0-1) started on the mound and worked 3 2/3 innings in his Felician debut. He was charged with three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks. Four Golden Falcon hurlers allowed only five hits with 12 strikeouts, but issued 10 walks and two hit batsmen.

The Golden Falcons and Sharks conclude their three-game weekend series on Sunday at noon in Fort Lauderdale.