WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 24, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern softball team was shut out twice Wednesday night against the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish. The Sharks (27-9) dropped the first game, 1-0 and fell to the Sailfish (19-7) in the second game, 2-0.
In the opening game, Devin Higginbotham (Jr., Palatka, Fla.) earned the loss but pitched very well. She only allowed one run and six hits while striking out five batters. She pitched five shutout innings before allowing a run and did not receive any run support. Her overall record is now 6-2.
In the second game, Dani Caron (Sr., Wellington, Fla.) pitched a two-hitter but lost for only the second time this season. It was her fourth start this season in which she allowed two hits or less. She only allowed one walk while striking out five batters.
Only four Shark batters were able to get hits off of PBA pitcher Ashley Jones who shutout the Sharks. Lauren Lopez (Sr., Miami, Fla.), Brittney Lamb (Sr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Rachel Talenfeld (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) all hit singles. Patty Rivero (Sr., Miami, Fla.) earned the biggest hit for her team with a stand up double in the third inning.
Higginbotham shut down the Sailfish over the first five innings, but loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dani Perotti hit a single up the middle that advanced the game winning run.
Lopez hit a leadoff single in the seventh inning and was eventually advanced to third base. Jones ended the game by striking out her 11th batter, tying the game-high against the Sharks this season.
Jones got the start for the Sailfish in the second outing and continued to pitch well. Lopez went 2-for-3 with two singles while Talenfeld earned the Sharks' only other hit.
The Sailfish put their first run on the board in the fourth inning, advancing home on a wild pitch. They would score again off of a double in the sixth inning. The Sharks had runners in scoring position in both the fifth and sixth innings but could not capitalize. This was the first day this season in which the Sharks played and did not win once.
Nova Southeastern will stay on the road and start a weekend series against Rollins this Friday, Mar. 26 at 7 pm.
