FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Mar. 13, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern softball team picked up its first two Sunshine State Conference wins of the season by defeating the Tampa Spartans Saturday night. The Sharks (22-6, 2-0 SSC) took the opening game, 5-1 and won the second game against the Spartans (8-8, 0-2 SSC), 8-2.

Jessica Hernandez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) had the biggest hit of the opening game against the Spartans with an RBI double to left field in the fifth inning. Hernandez went 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBI. She also led the way in the second game, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Brittney Lamb (Sr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) also had a productive day, hitting 3-for-6 on the day with nine putouts. Dana Bergner (Sr., Palm Harbour, Fla.) hit a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI in the second game against the Spartans.

In the first game, The Spartans put a run on the board first but the Sharks answered back by scoring all five runs in the fifth inning. Lamb and Bergner started off the inning with singles before Dani Caron (Sr., Wellington, Fla.) bunted to advance them both. The pitcher committed an error on the play, sending Lamb and Bergner home to take the lead.

Patty Rivero (Sr., Miami, Fla.) followed up with a walk and Noemi Luciani (Sr., Miami, Fla.) sent Caron home with a single to left centerfield. Hernandez's double sent both runners home and put the Sharks up by four runs. Hernandez came close to scoring but was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the fifth.

Caron only allowed two hits over the final two innings to earn her ninth win of the year. Overall, Caron pitched a complete game and struck out five batters without allowing an earned run.

In the second game, the Sharks scored in four out of six innings. They scored one run a piece in the second and third innings, once off of an Erica Barrabi (So., Sunrise, Fla.) triple and another off of a Lauren Lopez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) double.

The Sharks scored three runs a piece in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Hernandez had her second big hit of the day with a two-run homer over the left centerfield fence. It was her second home run of the season. Laura Saladrigas (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.) followed up with a triple through the right side and was sent home by Bergner's third hit of the night.

In the sixth, Rachel Talenfeld (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Luciani, and Lopez all reached base with one out on the board. Hernandez hit her third multiple run hit of the day with a two-run single. Lopez advanced to third and stole home during the next at bat.

Coming off a one-hitter against Northwood, Lexi Sarradet (Sr., Miami, Fla.) picked up her second straight win by striking out a season-high eight batters. She only allowed two earned runs and four hits over seven innings pitched, improving her record to 7-5.

The Nova Southeastern softball team will finish their weekend series against Tampa tomorrow at noon