GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

CARROLLTON, Ga. – In two high-scoring games for the Nova Southeastern University softball team (15-5), the Sharks walked away from day one of the West Georgia Invitational with a 12-9 win over host West Georgia before falling to Augusta State in eight innings, 8-7, on Friday.

GAME ONE
The Sharks started the West Georgia Invitational off in exciting fashion with a high scoring victory over the University of West Georgia Wolves (9-4).

Winning the pre-game coin toss, the Sharks earned home field advantage over the Wolves. The first inning was all the Sharks needed to make their presence known allowing the Wolves only one hit and scoring five runs at-bat. Laura Saladrigas (So., Hollywood, Fla.) opened the flood gates with a single shot to right field bringing home Gianni Artidiello (Fr., Miami, Fla.) and Rachel Talenfeld (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) for an early 2-0 lead.

After a series of stolen bases and batters hit by pitch, Holly Roberson (Fr., Dunnellon, Fla.) got a hold of one down the left field line to single and bring home two more Sharks runners Brittany Phillips (Sr., Seminole, Fla.) and Dani Millan (Fr., Ventura, Calif.).

Roberson later reached home on a Wolves fielding error which gave the Sharks a commanding 5-0 lead after one inning of play.

In the top of the third the Wolves showed their true colors by battling back against senior pitcher Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.). The Wolves recorded five runs on five hits, including a grand slam to come even with the Sharks.

NSU was not intimidated by the Wolves efforts the first half of the inning and battled right back. With two outs on the board, Stephanie Palazzolo (So., New Port Richey, Fla.) recorded her first hit of the season with a booming double to the right field fence, sparking the Sharks offense. 

Katie Kelton (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) in turn hit an RBI single to right field to bring home Palazzolo, giving the Sharks the lead yet again. After a series of errors by the Wolves, Talenfeld singled again for the second time in the contest to bat in Artidiello to end the inning with an 8-5 lead over the Wolves.

After two Sarradet strikeouts and a routine ground ball the Sharks defense were able to shut down West Georgia’s fourth inning rebuttal. NSU was eager to increase the score in the bottom of the fourth and they did just that. After back-to-back doubles by Millan and Roberson and an RBI single by Palazzolo, the Sharks scored three to increase the lead by six over the Wolves.

West Georgia hacked away at the lead in the top of the 5th inning with a two-run homerun adjusting the score to 11-7. After holding the Sharks to only one hit in the bottom of the 5th inning, the Wolves were able to make some headway on the Sharks by scoring two runs on two hits in the top of the 6th.

Palazzolo, who recorded her third hit of the contest and of the season, singled to center field. Palazzolo’s hit turned out to be the only hit and run of the inning but turned out to be all that was needed to take home a win for the Sharks.

The Sharks' defense held the Wolves to only one batter in the top of the 7th inning to close out the game with the final score of 12-9 in favor of the Sharks.

GAME TWO
The Sharks scored three runs in the eighth inning but it was just short as NSU snapped a nine-game win streak against the Augusta State, 8-7.

All the momentum favored Augusta State as they headed into the bottom of the sixth inning with a 4-0.

Saladrigas walked to the plate in the bottom half of the sixth and sent her fourth home run over the fence for Nova Southeastern’s first run. Feeding off the dinger, Sara DeMuth (Jr., Plant City, Fla.) lined a double, plating Phillips from second base, cutting the Jags lead in half.

DeMuth held Augusta State scoreless in the top of the seventh, allowing the Sharks an opportunity to either tie or drive in the winning run in the bottom half of the inning.

Artidiello led off with a double and Talenfeld put runners on the corners with nobody out in the seventh. After a wild pitch from Augusta State’s reliever Emily Headrick, Artidiello crossed home cutting the lead to one and the tying run on second.

Millan grounded to the right side, plating Talenfeld to even the game at 4-4.

In extra innings, Augusta State capitalized on two errors by the Sharks defense, scoring fours to double its previous runs scored.

There was no quit in the effort that NSU gave as they rallied in their at-bat but fell just short. With two-outs and one run already across for the Sharks, Kelton belted her first career home run with a runner on as Augusta State saw their lead dwindle to one, 8-7. Artidiello walked in the following at-bat but NSU could not string together anymore runs falling to a team receiving votes in the national poll.

The Sharks recorded nine hits to the Jags six as Phillips and Saladrigas both had two.

DeMuth falls to 6-3 tossing the complete game, surrendering eight runs, only one of them earned.

NSU mission will be ease up as they open with No. 4 Alabama-Huntsville at 12 p.m. before turning right around to battle North Alabama at 2 p.m. in the West Georgia Invitational.