GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (22-11, 4-5 SSC) crushed the Eckerd Tritons (11-24, 0-9 SSC), 4-0 and 11-2 (5 inn.), Saturday afternoon to complete the three-game sweep at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.

GAME ONE
Senior Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) had one of her best pitching performances of her career as she tossed a complete game shutout en route to a career-high 14 strikeouts.

The righty improved to 7-2 on the year as she scattered four hits while not allowing a walk.

The Sharks defense played their 16th errorless game of the season.

As the Sharks did on Friday night, they commanded the game by scoring in the first inning. With two outs, senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) singled to centerfield and later stole second. Batting in the four spot, freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled to the shortstop, platting Talenfeld for NSU’s first run.

Bondarenko advanced to scoring position with her first stolen base of the season. Senior Brittany Phillips (Seminole, Fla.) lined her 11th double of the season down the right field line, driving home Bondarenko as the Sharks took a 2-0 lead.

In the third, junior Katie Kelton (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled through the left side on the first offering from Tritons pitcher Alex Sasso. With Kelton standing on second, Bondarenko record her second hit and second RBI with a single through the left side.

The final run for the Sharks was scored off an error by the Tritons as Holly Roberson (Fr., Dunnellon, Fla.) laid down a bunt single but it was thrown away far enough for Sara DeMuth (Jr., Plant City, Fla.) to cross home plate for a 4-0 lead.

Sasso (4-8) threw 6.0 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.

GAME TWO
Senior Devin Higginbotham (Palatka, Fla.) and Laura Saladrigas (Hollywood, Fla.) combined to throw the Sharks’ first no-hitter of the season as NSU dominated game two, 11-2, in five innings.

Even though the Tritons scored two runs in the top half of the first on three walks and one error, Higginbotham (4-1) settled down in the second and eventually secured the win. The senior threw three innings with no earned runs and struck out one.

In the first and second innings, the Sharks loaded the bases in both innings but could not capitalize with runs on the scoreboard.

The bats truly came alive in the third for NSU. Batting around the lineup, the Sharks scored nine runs on six hits in the frame.

Bondarenko started the rally by reaching on a fielding error by the Tritons. Another error by Eckerd put runners on second and third with no outs. Freshman Dani Millan (Ventura, Calif.) loaded the bases after being hit by her 12th pitch of the season. The Sharks’ RBI leader, Saladrigas, smoked a ball over the right fielders head, clearing the bases as NSU took a 3-2 lead.

Sophomore Marissa Raimo (Hampton Bays, N.Y) singled to center, driving home Saladrigas from third. With two outs, Kelton recorded her second hit of the day by singling to the shortstop, bringing home Raimo who stood 60-feet away. Kelton stood on third after a stolen base and a passed ball and Talenfeld blooped a single to right as NSU extended its lead, 6-0.

Still not done, Bondarenko doubled to right for NSU’s fourth extra base-hit of the game. Even though the Tritons made a pitching change, the Sharks continued to tack on runs. Millan drove home her first run of the game with a hard single through the right side. Another error put Nova Southeastern ahead by seven runs, 9-2.

In the fourth, Saladrigas relieved Higginbotham and retired the next six batters she faced.

Looking to conclude the series in run-rule fashion, the Sharks only need one more run and hold off the Triton bats.

Raimo started the fourth singling to center on a 3-1 count. Kelton smashed a double to left center for her third hit of the game and second extra-base hit, giving the Sharks the eight run advantage it needed. Kelton later scored on a wild pitch for the Sharks 11th run of the game.

Saladrigas shut down the Tritons’ bats by forcing three straight pop ups to secure the no-hitter.

Kaitlyn Doughery (5-8) suffered the loss, only throwing 2.2 innings, giving up eight runs on six hits.

The Sharks outscored Eckerd 21-2 over the three-game series.

NSU will continue SSC play as they hit the road to Melbourne, Fla. for a mid-week series against Florida Tech, March 29-30.