GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (19-11) batted their way to two regional wins against Palm Beach Atlantic (16-12) as the Sharks topped the Sailfish, 3-2 and 5-4, Wednesday evening at Lake Catherine Sportsplex.

GAME ONE
The Sharks’ aggressiveness paid off as NSU scored in the final inning to break the tie and secure the win. After Palm Beach Atlantic climbed back in the game, junior Katie Kelton (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) laid down a bunt single with one out in the seventh. An errant throw by Sailfish’s catcher advanced Kelton into scoring position. Utilizing her speed, Kelton stole third but another bad throw by the catcher put the ball in the outfield, making it easy for the Sharks score the go-ahead run.

Prior to final inning, the Sharks had their momentum in their favor. In her first at-bat of the game, freshman Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.) drilled a triple over the PBA’s head in center, her first of the season. Senior Laura Saladrigas (Miami, Fla.) drove a single through the right side for her 28th RBI of the season as the Sharks took a 1-0 lead.

NSU threatened in the second after junior Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) led off the inning with a walk. The Sharks had runners on second and third after Stephanie Palazzolo (So., New Port Richey, Fla.) reached on an error but did add to their lead.

Once again NSU got the leadoff batter on as Kelton singled up the middle. Kelton got another stolen base of the game sliding around the tag, all with no outs. Senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) grounded out to third moving Kelton into prime scoring position.

Brittany Phillips (Sr., Seminole, Fla.) hit her ninth double of the season to left field, driving home the Sharks second run.

On the mound, DeMuth (8-7) threw a gem as she scattered four hits as she threw her 14th complete game. The righty hurler struck out four and her first strikeout was her 100th of the season.

NSU got six hits in the win, four coming off the bats of Phillips and Kelton.

Chris Donovan fell to 9-5 on the season as she surrendered six hits, three runs, walked two and struck out four.

GAME TWO
Even though the Sharks bats didn’t come alive until fourth inning, NSU recorded a double-digit hit performance as they put 10 up in the hit column.

Saladrigas led off the inning with a walk to begin the Sharks rally in the fourth. DeMuth, who is second on the team in hit by pitches, reached with her eighth of the year. Sophomore Marissa Raimo (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) lined a single to centerfield driving home Saladrigas for the Sharks first run.

Freshman Holly Roberson (Dunnellon, Fla.) followed suit with a single to center bringing home DeMuth as the Sharks took a 2-0 lead.

In the sixth, NSU added three additional runs to its already 2-0 lead.

Freshman Dani Millan (Ventura, Calif.) added her second hit of the game to right field to lead off the sixth frame. Raimo stepped to the plate and hit her first career extra base hit as she roped a triple to right center, plating Millan. With two on and two out, Kelton hit the Sharks third triple of the game as Artidiello and Roberson both crossed home to make it 5-0.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth, starter Devin Higginbotham (Palatka, Fla.) held the Sailfish to only one hit. Palm Beach Atlantic rallied back in the sixth to make it a one run ballgame.

Senior Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) was sent in for relief and shutdown the Sailfish in the final 1.2 innings for her third save of the year.

Higginbotham (3-1) got the win, hurling 5.1 innings, giving up four hits, four runs, while only allowing one walk and striking out three.

Sarradet struck out five of the six batters she faced by the way of strikeouts.

The Sharks will return back to Sunshine State Conference play as they host Eckerd for a three-game series at the AD Griffin Sports Complex with the first game on Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m.