WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Shorter Hawks successfully opened its NCCA South Region title defense Thursday when they blanked Clearwater Christian 9-0 in a seven inning game that didn't end until close to midnight.

The win sets up a second round clash tonight at 8 p.m. when the Hawks square off against host Palm Beach Atlantic.

Against Clearwater, senior starter Travis McPherson pitched five innings, had nine strikeouts and gave up just one hit to record the win while reliever Hansel Lazo closed out the game preserving the shutout in the last two inning.

At the plate, the scattered 11 hits with Dylan Riner collecting three hits and scored twice, Ian Redetzky had a pair of hits and drove in three runs and Brian Cabrara added two hits and drove home two runs.

Cabrera opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when he delivered a bases-loaded single to single that brought home two runs, the Hawks added two more runs in the third, then added some insurance with a three-run outburst in the fourth and two more runs in the sixth.