BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Nova Southeastern University softball team (2-0) took the field for the second game of the doubleheader against the St. Thomas Bobcats (0-2) after the exciting comeback win for NSU.

Junior Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) took the mound for the first time in a Shark uniform and tossed a complete game shutout for the win. She only allowed six hits while striking out seven and walking one.
Although the Sharks only mustered three hits, NSU scored early in the game to give DeMuth a security blanket.

In the second, Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit a shot off the left field wall to get the Sharks a player in scoring position with no outs. Senior Brittany Phillips (Seminole, Fla.) stepped up next and singled right up the middle to put runners on first and third, still with no one out. St. Thomas’ catcher Danielle Borrelli could not hold on to a Brenda Emerson pitch which put Phillips on second.

Laura Saladrigas (So., Hollywood, Fla.) sent a deep fly ball to center and Bondarenko slid under the tag to give the Sharks its first run. With Phillips on third, Emerson lost control of the ball and sent it to the backstop as Phillips scurried to the plate tacking on another NSU run for the 2-0 lead.

St. Thomas look to bounce back the very next inning rallying two hit but NSU’s defense stood strong for DeMuth. With runners on first and second with nobody out, the Bobcats attempted a sacrifice bunt but Sarradet picked it up and threw it to third in time to get the lead runner.

Sasha Horton tried to test the arm of Bondarenko behind the plate, but a snap throw to third on an attempted stolen base racked up the second out for STU. DeMuth would close the inning and kill the rally as sat down Melissa King on strikes.

For the remainder of the game, both pitchers settled down as neither team scored.

Emerson (0-1) suffered the loss despite holding the Sharks to three hits. She walked three on struck out four.

The Sharks will head to the west coast of Florida as they participate in with West Florida Tournament in Pensacola, March 4-6. NSU will play in three doubleheaders against tough region team.