BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (17-9, 1-3 SSC) dropped a heartbreaker to the No. 17 Rollins Tars (23-1, 4-0 SSC), 2-0, Friday night at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.

Despite Rollins’ hurler Hope Bitzer tossing a no-hitter against the Sharks, NSU threatened on two separate occasions in the game.

In a pitching dual between Bitzer and NSU’s own Sara DeMuth (Jr., Plant City, Fla.), both gave up no earned runs and struck out a combined 16 batters.

DeMuth (7-6) tossed a complete game, scattering five hits and striking out nine while only allowing one walk.

Bitzer (10-0) walked three and struck out seven in her showing.

Senior Rachel Talenfeld (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) showed great defense in the fourth inning which helped the Sharks keep the game deadlocked at 0-0.

After a leadoff double by Rollins’ Krista Rodden, Demuth struck out Bitzer for the first out of the inning. Talenfeld then made a great over the shoulder grab for the second out of the inning. Lawna Hunter from Rollins then grounded to Talenfeld who scooped it up and caught Rodden in the middle of the base path for the final out.

Senior Brittany Phillips (Seminole, Fla.) was the first Shark to reach base as she trotted to first with one out. Freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) laid down the sacrifice bunt but the Tars defense tried to get the lead runner but failed in their attempt, putting runners on first and second with one out. DeMuth loaded the bases after another walk by Bitzer. After an attempted suicide squeeze by Holly Roberson (Fr., Dunnellon, Fla.), the Tars defense made the throw home for the out and later made a catch in foul territory to end the inning.

Rollins scored two unearned in the top of the sixth to take the lead.

In the final inning, Phillips reached base a second time on another walk to lead off the seventh. Bondarenko hit a hard grounder that went right between the legs of Rollins’ shortstop to put runners on first and second with no outs. With one out and a sacrifice bunt by Roberson, Katie Kelton (Jr., Pembroke Pines) hit a hard liner that was inches from getting through the hole and landed in the glove of the Tars’ third baseman for the final out.

The Sharks and Tars will continue their rivalry tomorrow with a doubleheader at the AD Griffin Sports Complex beginning at 1 p.m.