FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Feb 9, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern University softball team (2-0) started off the season on a solid note with two victories over the St. Thomas Bobcats (0-4). The Sharks took the first game, 10-1 in five innings and went on to win the second game, 8-2.
"I was very pleased with our offensive performance tonight," said Head Coach Lesa Boneè. "We hit the ball hard and had aggressive base running. We got a big weekend ahead of us, it was good to be challenged by another team."
The Sharks were dominant Tuesday night on the mound and at the plate. Brittney Lamb (Sr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) was the star on offense in the first game as she went 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBI.
Lauren Lopez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) did not get a hit until the second game, but she exploded offensively by going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Her highlight of the night was an inside the park home run in the fourth inning that put the Sharks up by six runs.
Dani Caron (Sr., Wellington, Fla.) pitched well in the Sharks' season opener. She only allowed one earned run and two hits while striking out four batters. Lexi Sarradet (Jr., Miami, Fla.) also pitched well in her season debut and was perfect through the first three innings. She had three strikeouts and held the Bobcats to two hits.
NSU did not start quietly in their first game and scored two runs in the first inning. Bobcat pitcher Gina Guffanti walked her first three batters, which set up a two run double for Lamb.
After scoring once in the third, the Sharks scored a whopping seven runs in the in the fourth inning. Lamb, Patty Rivero (Sr., Miami, Fla.), and Brittany Phillips (Jr., Seminole, Fla.) all batted in runs in NSU's biggest inning of the night. Caron struck out two batters in the fifth inning before the game was called.
In the second game, NSU did not score until their four-run third inning. Rachel Talenfeld (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) doubled to start off the scoring run and Jessica Hernandez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) hit a single that drove in two runs.
The Sharks would score three more runs on Lopez's home run and one more in the sixth inning. Devin Higginbotham (Palatka, Fla.) made her Shark debut when she relived Sarradet in the sixth. She put forth a strong effort in two innings, allowing one hit and no earned runs.
The Sharks will now travel to Pensacola, Fla. for the West Florida Tournament. They will face off against North Alabama in a double header on Friday, Feb. 12 at 4 pm.
