WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 10, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern softball team (20-6) hit 20 wins with road victories against the Northwood Seahawks Wednesday afternoon. They took the first game, 2-0 and the second game, 8-1.
Lexi Sarradet (Jr., Miami, Fla.) pitched a one-hitter in the opening game of the day. She shutout the Seahawks and had a no-hitter with two outs on the board in the final inning. Sarradet showed great composure as she did not receive any run support for the first six innings. She struck out a season-high six batters as she earned her sixth win of the season.
Lauren Lopez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) had a great outing in the final game of the day, going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs. The first went over left center field in the sixth inning and the next was an inside the park bomb in the seventh. Laura Saladrigas (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.) had a game-high three hits and two RBI.
The first game was a pitching duel as neither pitcher allowed a hit through the first four innings. Northwood's Michelle Crompton had her no hitter broken up in the fifth inning when Brittany Phillips (Jr., Seminole, Fla.) hit a single to the shortstop. The Sharks were not able to bring her home and did not score until the final inning.
The Sharks put themselves on the board in the seventh when Jessica Hernandez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) and Brittney Lamb (Sr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) hit one out singles. Dana Bergner (Sr., Palm Harbour, Fla.) reached on an error by the shortstop, advancing both runners home. The rally was strong enough as Sarradet kept the Seahawks scoreless in the final frame.
In the second game, NSU went scoreless until they had a three run fourth inning. Rachel Talenfeld (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led off the frame with a bunt single before Lopez reached off an error. Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to score Talenfeld followed by an RBI single from Saladrigas. Saladrigas was advanced on a sacrifice hit from Lamb and advanced home by a double from Bergner.
The Sharks had their biggest inning of the game in the sixth when they scored four runs. Lopez led off with her first home run and was followed by a Hernandez standup triple. Saladrigas earned her second RBI by advancing Hernandez home on single to left field.
Lamb reached base in the next at bat before Bergner and Patty Rivero (Sr., Miami, Fla.) eventually advanced both runners home. The game was capped off by Lopez's inside the park home run in the seventh.
Devin Higginbotham (Jr., Palatka, Fla.) improved to 4-0 by pitching four scoreless innings. Dani Caron (Sr., Wellington, Fla.) pitched the next two and only allowed two hits. Saladrigas closed the game and did not allow a hit or a run.
The Sharks will kick off Sunshine State Conference play this Friday, Mar. 12 at 7 pm when they start their weekend series against Tampa.
