GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (14-4) extended their win streak to eight games on Wednesday night by completing a doubleheader sweep over the Mercyhurst Lakers at the AD Griffin Sports Complex. The Sharks won the opening game 2-1 and the nightcap 3-1.

Rachel Talenfeld (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) went 6-for-8 at the plate with an RBI and scored once to lead the Sharks offensively. She was the only player to acquire multiple hits in both ends of the doubleheader.

Senior Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) and junior Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) combined for a total of 21 strikeouts in the series. Sarradet fanned 10 in the opening game matching a season-high set against North Alabama on Feb. 11. DeMuth’s 11 strikeouts were a season and career-high as a Shark.

GAME ONE

The Sharks opened the midweek series by loading the bases in the bottom of the opening frame with no outs. However, Laker pitcher Amanda Norman managed to get out of the jam securing three consecutive outs.

In the top of the second, Mercyhurst struck first with a single run to take a 1-0 lead. Michelle Schmitz led off with a double to right center and later advanced to third on a passed ball by the NSU catcher Gina Bondarenko (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.). Kristen Fyffe then drove in the go ahead run with an RBI single to center that gave Mercyhurst the one-run advantage.

During the next four frames, both teams were held scoreless. Although Norman had been solid during her first four innings of work, Mercyhurst made a pitching change subbing in Megan Hopton, which proved beneficial heading into the seventh inning for NSU.

DeMuth started the inning with a leadoff single to third and then advanced to second on a Holly Roberson (Fr., Dunnellon, Fla.) sacrifice bunt. Katie Kelton (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) then singled to put runners at the corners. After 2.1 innings of work Hopton was pulled and Norman re-entered as the Laker pitcher, but it was a decision that proved to be too late.

Gianni Artidiello (Fr., Miami, Fla.) was hit by a pitch to load the bags with only one out. Melanie Spicola (Fr., Umatilla, Fla.) then came in to pinch run for DeMuth at third. Talenfeld followed with a fielder’s choice while Spicola was forced out at home. With the bases still loaded, Kelton managed to score on a passed ball by the Laker catcher Fyffe to tie the game a 1-1. With two outs, Laura Saladrigas (So., Hollywood, Fla.) reached on the free pass to load the bases a third time for the Sharks. On what would appear to be the final out to send the game into extra innings, an infield popup by Dani Millan (Fr., Ventura, Calif.) was dropped by Norman in front of the pitching circle that allowed Artidiello to score the winning run, 2-1.

Talenfeld went 2-for-4 at the plate, while DeMuth added a pair of hits going 2-for-3. Sarradet (4-1) picked up the win in the circle scattering three hits over the seven innings and fanning 10 with one walk. Mercyhurst’s reliever Hopton (0-1) suffered the loss allowing four hits over 2.1 innings and two runs. Norman finished with five walks in 4.1 innings, while Fyffe drove in the only Laker run.

GAME TWO

In the nightcap, both teams scattered five hits over the seven innings, but the Sharks managed to come away with a 3-1 win to extend their win streak to eight games.

After holding Mercyhurst scoreless in the top of the first, NSU took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the innings off a RBI from Talenfeld and Millan. Artidiello led off with a double down the left field line. Talenfeld followed with an RBI single through the left side to plate the go ahead run. After a successful stolen base attempt, she advanced to third on Saladrigas’ sacrifice bunt. Millan followed with a sacrifice fly to left field that plated the Sharks’ second score.

In the top half of the next inning, Mercyhurst managed a single run to close the gap to 2-1. Fyffe and Andrea Sauers boasted back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second, while Emily Redig walked to load the bases. With two outs, DeMuth walked the next batter, Chynna Headrick, which scored the Lakers’ only run before Samantha Eimers struck out looking to end the inning.

The Sharks narrowly missed out on another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second after loading the bases for the fourth time in the Wednesday series. However, two Laker defensive miscues in the bottom of the sixth sealed the game for NSU.

Kelton ended up on third after reaching on an opening frame throwing error by the third baseman. Another error by the second baseman landed Artidiello on first, while Kelton scored the final run for NSU’s 3-1 win.

Talenfeld was one of only three batters to record hits in the nightcap going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. DeMuth’s (6-2) was her best outing as a Shark fanning 11 batters which was a season and career-high as a Shark. Kristi Janoske (0-1) suffered the loss for Mercyhurst allowing three runs, two earned and waling four.

The Sharks will return to action on Friday, March 4-6 at the West Georgia Tournament in Carrolton, Ga.