FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle baseball team completed a gutsy win on Friday night, outlasting Nova Southeastern on the road, 4-3. The Eagles (20-14, 8-8 SSC) claimed their third NCAA II win over the Sharks (17-14, 8-8 SSC), second in as many seasons.
 
The ninth inning was Alex Britton's on Friday as the senior outfielder plated the eventual winning run in the top of the frame, and made an excellent throw to nab a runner for the second out at the plate to preserve the lead in the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Eagle staff was electric once again, with Dillon Moran taking the bump to start. Moran worked an efficient 7.1 innings, giving up just three runs on four hits. He gave up just one walk to six strikeouts in the effort. On for 1.2 innings in relief, Max Meyer picked up his sixth victory of the year. Meyer walked three but gave up just one hit and struck out one, getting out of a pair of jams late to earn and preserve the win.
 
The Eagles were paced offensively by a 4-for-5 day from AJ Marinello, who collected a pair of infield hits to go along with a double, one of four Eagle two-baggers on the night. Chase Bruno finished 2-for-4 with a double and represented the winning run that Britton worked home. Camden Traficante and Timo Aracena also added extra-base hits to their ledger.
 
The early goings of the contest were rather quiet, thanks mostly due to Moran's effectiveness. The righty retired the first seven batters in order, before giving up a homer to break the Sharks' silence in the third. By that time, however, the Eagles were already up 2-0.
 
Backstop Cameron Martinez reached on an error at third to lead off the third inning, then Matthew Coker singled to center to put two runners aboard. Bruno then laid down a perfect bunt to the left side of the mound, before reaching safely to an empty first base to load the bags. From there, Traficante drew a full count walk to make it 1-0, before Marinello slapped an infield single to third to go up 2-0.
 
After the homer in the third for NSU, Moran settled in once again, retiring six more Sharks in a row. The Eagles threatened during that stretch, and scratched one across in the sixth. With the bases loaded again, Marinello scored on a wild pitch, but ERAU couldn't add any more runs, up 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, NSU smacked a one-out, two-run homer to tie things up at 3-3. Moran got one to go down swinging before a two-out single, then a deep fly to end the threat. Moran also struck out two in the seventh before Meyer came on in the eighth.
 
In the top of the ninth, Bruno smashed a one-out double to left, then Traficante drew an intentional walk to put two runners on. Marinello beat out a slow-developing play at first for his second infield hit, once again giving a bases-loaded situation to the Eagles. Britton then worked his walk that scored Bruno, giving the Eagles a one-run advantage into the last three outs.
 
The Sharks drew a leadoff walk, then Braceras moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With one out and the tying run in scoring position, Cainzos ripped a shot to left, just in front of Britton, who then fired a laser to the plate, where Martinez was standing to make the play for the second out. A wild pitch moved the new tying run to third with two outs, but Meyer got Lowe to go down looking to end the night with the win.
 
The Eagles and Sharks will scrap once again on Saturday at 1 p.m.