GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (12-4) finished the Eckerd College Triton Spring Invitational with a perfect 6-0 record after the Sharks outscored their opponents 48-16 over the three day weekend at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.

Over the weekend senior Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) passed former teammate Dani Caron (2007-10) with 66 complete games thrown in a career.

As a team, NSU batted .363 as the Sharks had 56 hits, 16 for extra bases. On the mound, Nova Southeastern hurled a 2.15 earned run average over the six games.

The Sharks defense was strong only committed two errors while turning four double plays.

GAME ONE
Seeking revenge from a West Florida (5-4) who beat them twice in the Gulf South/Sunshine State Conference Regional Crossover earlier in the season, the Nova Southeastern Sharks tallied 11 hits en route to a 7-3 win over the Argonauts.

NSU was designated the visiting in the first game and was the first the strike.

In the second inning, Laura Saladrigas (So., Hollywood, Fla.) and Dani Millan (Fr., Ventura, Calif.) singled back-to-back to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Senior Brittany Phillips (Seminole, Fla.) roped a double down the right field line as the Sharks scored its first two runs as Saladrigas and Millan crossed home plate.

The Sharks would add an additional run in the third inning as senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led off the frame with a single. As Saladrigas reached on an error and Millan drew a walk to load the bases, junior transfer Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) stood at the plate with a full count and two outs. Standing patiently, DeMuth watched a pitch miss the outside corner, allowing Talenfeld to trot home as NSU took a 3-0 lead.

Continuing to put the pounding on the Argonauts, the Sharks once again added a single run in the fourth. This time it was off the bat of freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.). With freshman Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.) standing on second after reaching on an infield single, Bondarenko hit a liner to center, scoring Artidiello for the Sharks fourth run.

With the momentum screaming NSU, Millan doubled to center for her second hit and once against the Sharks had the leadoff batter on base. DeMuth stood in once again, but this time her RBI came from doubling a shot off the right centerfield wall. As Kelton singled and stood to second on a stolen base, Artidiello singled to right center for a pair of RBIs.

With a staggering 7-0 lead, the Sharks had a great defensive stop from Talenfeld at short to kill a rally from the Argonauts in the fifth.

UWF hit two back-to-back singles but Talenfeld made an over the shoulder catch and eventually doubled off the Argonauts lead runners, as NSU kept West Florida off the scoreboard.

The Argonauts scored three in the bottom of the seventh but DeMuth struck out the final two batters to secure her sixth win in the circle.

DeMuth, whose only two losses came from UWF, hurled a complete game, scattering eight hits and striking out seven Argonaut batters.

Ashliegh McLean (4-3) suffered the loss, tossing all seven innings, as NSU tallied 12 hits while earning three walks.

GAME TWO
Facing Lynn in a non-conference game, NSU walked away with an 11-3 regional win in just innings of play.

The Fighting Knights were the first to run a run on the board taking advantage of an NSU error in the third.

The Sharks rebounded in the bottom half of the third by scoring three on three hits. Saladrigas would bring home the first run on a grounder to the second baseman, scoring Kelton. Talenfeld reached first on the infield single, and eventually would score on a wild pitch by the Lynn hurler.

Phillips once again would find the hole in outfield as she sent one deep to right field that bounced right in front of the fence for the ground rule double, plating Saladrigas.

Lynn once again scored in the fifth but this time it was enough to even the game 3-3.

NSU would regain the lead back after capitalizing on two Lynn errors.

Sarradet entered the game with a 5-3 lead and save opportunity in the sixth. After retiring the first three batters she saw, Sarradet turned to her offense for some assistance.

And that’s what NSU did. The Sharks scored six runs to end the game in run rule fashion.

Lynn’s defense committed two errors, combined with the Sharks three hits in the sixth and NSU took the 11-3 win.

Freshman Holly Roberson (Dunnellon, Fla.), Phillips and Saladrigas all recorded multi-hit at-bats for the Sharks.

Senior Devin Higginbotham (Palatka, Fla.) earned her second win of the season, throwing 5,0 innings, surrendering three runs, all unearned. The righty struck out three and scattered five hits.

Sarradet earned her second save of the season.

NSU will return to the confines of the AD Griffin Sports Complex for a doubleheader against Mercyhurst on Wednesday, March 2 will the first pitch slated for 5 p.m.