FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With all but two starters gone from the 2010 season, the Nova Southeastern University softball team will begin the 2011 season with a new slate. The Sharks will host the St. Thomas Bobcats (0-0) in a doubleheader at 6 p.m. at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.
The Sharks finished the 2010 season with a 45-17 record and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the second straight year. The Sharks will be led by five seniors while looking to adjust to the style of seven newcomers.
Senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) will anchor the infield switching positions from the outfield to shortstop. She hit .345 and earn 32 walks, while swiping 24 bases on 31 attempts.
On the mound, three returners in Laura Saladrigas (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.), Devin Higginbotham (Sr., Palatka, Fla.) and Lexi Sarradet (Sr., Miami, Fla.) and junior transfer Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) will rotate in the pitching rotation.
Overall the team hit .322 last year and was one of the nation’s best with a .450 slugging percentage. The Sharks tallied 78 doubles, 26 triples and powered 26 home runs.
The Sharks gained some respect on the national level, garnering 13 votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Associations Preseason Top-25 poll.
About St. Thomas
The Bobcats of St. Thomas return nine players to the 2011 squad, including three who had over a .350 batting average. Melissa King was the team’s RBI leader with 26 in 131 at-bats. Carissa Albizu claimed the batting title crown with a .366 average and a team leading five homeruns.
The team batted a mere .270 and was outscored by its opponents 195-160. St. Thomas finished the season with a 17-29 record. The NAIA school finished with a 6-9 record in conference action.
The Series vs. St. Thomas
The Sharks have dominated the series with a 36-7 advantage over the Bobcats. In their 2010 matchup, NSU swept St. Thomas in the four meetings throughout the year.
Last year, Nova Southeastern opened the 2010 season against the Bobcats and rolled past them to earn its first two victories (10-1, 8-2).
With only a few games left in the season, the Sharks pounced on the Bobcats (9-1, 8-2) to secure the sweep.
Read the feature
HERE on the history of NSU Softball and the steps its taken since its first year in 1995.
Live stats (Click
HERE) will be available for the 6 p.m. doubleheader. Follow NSU Softball through Twitter at
www.twitter.com/NSUSharks.
