GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE | SENIOR DAY PHOTO GALLERY

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.– Playing in honor of its five seniors, the Nova Southeastern University softball team (31-18, 9-12 SSC) showed no mercy against the Lynn Fighting Knights (10-37, 5-16 SSC) adding two more run-rule victories Friday night at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.

 

NSU recorded the biggest inning of the year in game one en route to a 12-3 win in five innings. Senior Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) became the all-time win leader, passing NSU Hall of Famer Jennifer Ridenoure (1999-02) in game two as the Sharks won in six innings, 10-2.

 

The Sharks used their best offensive inning of the year as a stepping stone to its second straight run-rule win over Lynn, 12-3, in five innings.

 

The Lynn Fighting Knights was first to strike Callie Darlin singled home Brittany Gross for the first run.

 

The Sharks quickly evened it up as sophomore Laura Saladrigas (Hollywood, Fla.) and freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit back-to-back singles with two outs. Lynn, who has struggled defensively all year, committed a throwing error at plated Saladrigas for one of five in the series.

 

The Knights retook the lead, 3-1, off a double by Mandi Brown.

 

NSU did not let that lead sit, as the Sharks brought 16 batters to the plate for an 11-run third inning. Freshman Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.) started things off right with a single to left center. Junior Katie Kelton (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) pushed a bunt passed the Lynn defense to reach safely with a hit.

 

Senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) drove home Artidiello and Saladrigas doubled home Kelton to even the game, 3-3. Bondarenko knocked in two more with a double of her own and senior Brittany Phillips (Sr., Seminole, Fla.) roped the Sharks third straight double as NSU pushed its lead, 6-3.

 

Still with nobody out, junior Sara DeMuth(Plant City, Fla.) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. After a wild pitch, another error would plate home the Sharks' seventh run. Artidiello stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning and reached on the Knights’ third error. Kelton hit a ball up the middle and far enough away from the defense, allowing time for DeMuth to slide under the tag at home.

 

Talenfeld, Saladrigas and Bondarenko all registered RBI’s in the same inning as part of the seven hit, 11-run marathon.

 

Senior Devin Higginbotham (Palatka, Fla.) tossed her seventh win, scattering seven hits and striking out two. Higginbotham (7-3) was only charged for two of the runs scored and only threw 53 pitches.

 

Darlin (6-21) suffered the loss, surrendering nine Shark hits and not getting a strikeout.

 

After the senior festivities commenced, the Sharks refocused and buckled down as NSU completed the sweep with another run-rule.

 

Sarradet (13-4) struck out seven as the senior has now totaled 593 in her career, just four shy of tying the NSU record that Ridenoure holds.

 

NSU struck first as Kelton started off the home half of the frame with a single. Moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Talenfeld, Bondarenko singled home Kelton as NSU took a 1-0 lead. After a Phillips walk and a DeMuth single, the defense for Lynn faltered, allowing the Sharks to hold a 3-0 lead after one inning of work.

 

The Sharks extended its lead in the fourth as Nova Southeastern scored another three runs. Sophomore Marissa Raimo (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) started the frame off with one of four Shark walks. With two on, Saladrigas tripled for the fourth time this season, bring home her sixth and seventh RBI of the series.

 

Bondarenko singled for the second time, and also drove home her second RBI of the game.

 

Lynn fought back, scoring two in the fifth to keep the game alive and NSU earned the runs back in the bottom of the inning.

 

Demuth was hit by her 14th pitch of the season and Raimo was also hit by a pitch, both scoring on a Lynn error.

 

In the sixth, DeMuth doubled to right center as the Sharks 10th run of the game crossed home plate, allowing the Sharks to complete the sweep in run-rule fashion.

 

The Sharks will conclude the regular season on the road in Lakeland, Fla. with a three-game series against Florida Southern on April 28-29. The single game on the 28th will begin at 7 p.m., while the doubleheader will begin in the middle of the day at 1 p.m.

 

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