GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (32-20, 10-14 SSC) split in two dramatic style games which lasted nearly eight hours to the Florida Southern Mocs (25-21, 13-11 SSC) Friday at Barnett Field to end the regular season.

The Sharks played a historic first game in a multitude of ways. First the two teams battled in a 15 inning marathon that lasted 4:40, the longest game in the NCAA era for the Sharks, where NSU came out on top 10-7.

Additionally, senior Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) passed NSU Hall of Famer Jennifer Ridenoure in career total strikeouts, who held the record at 597 since 2002. Sarradet will leave the program holding the record for games started (98), wins (71), innings pitched (679.0) and strikeouts (602).

In the final game of the series, the Sharks dropped the rubber game in the seventh inning due to an error with two outs, falling 3-2.

GAME ONE
The Sharks marathon began after NSU took a 5-0 after the two innings of play. Senior Brittany Phillips (Seminole, Fla.) led off the frame with a double to left field. Rookie Dani Millan (Ventura, Calif.) struck gold with a single up the middle that easily plated home Phillips for the game’s first run.

Freshman Holly Roberson (Dunnellon, Fla.) followed with a walk and freshman Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.) reached on an error to load the bases for junior transfer Katie Kelton (Pembroke Pines, Fla.). Kelton lined a shot in foul territory that made the right fielder dive for the ball, allowing Millan to score the Sharks’ second run.

Two back-to-back fielding errors by the Mocs gave the Sharks a large 5-0 lead. FSC didn’t respond in the bottom half of the inning but did cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third, 5-4.

NSU bounced back to extend its lead to three in the fifth on a two-RBI single by Roberson. Another error by the Mocs, one of the eight they had in the game, allowed freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to reach first with one out. After both DeMuth and Millan were hit by pitches to load the bases, Roberson came through in the clutch with a hard single up the middle.

The Moccasins crept back as they scored two runs in the sixth to once again pulling back as the Sharks held a 7-6 advantage. With two outs in the bottom of seventh, FSC completed the comeback to even the game 7-7 and send the game into extra innings for the second time in as many games.

Both teams each had their opportunity to score from innings 8-14, but great defensive stops were vital and kept the game alive.

As the game reached the 15th inning, the longest game for either team this season, one defensive broke in favor of NSU. Kelton singled to right center for her fifth hit of the game to start off the frame. Senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was successful at laying down the sacrifice bunt and even reached on an error. Still with no outs, sophomore Laura Saladrigas (Hollywood, Fla.) looked to advance both runners with a sac bunt of her own. The Mocs defense picked up the bunt and threw to third, attempting to get the lead runner but was a throwing error got past the outfielder in left, allowing Kelton, Talenfeld and Saladrigas to touch home for three runs.

Florida Southern’s bats faltered in the home half of the inning as the Sharks walked away with a huge conference win.

DeMuth and Sarradet (14-5) combined for the win, throwing a total of 209 pitches, surrendering 18 hits, while striking out seven.

Morgan Brown (0-4) threw the complete game, hurling 242 pitches, giving up 13 Shark hits in the loss.

GAME TWO
The Florida Southern Moccasins started out game two unlike any other game in the series. They put runs on the board in the first inning off three hits to take a 2-0 lead.

The Sharks cut the lead to one as DeMuth lead off the third inning with a ground rule double to right center. Roberson successfully moved DeMuth 60-feet from scoring with a sacrifice bunt and later scored on a fielding error by the Mocs.

In the sixth inning, the Sharks put a run across the board courtesy of Saladrigas. With one out, Kelton put down a bunt single and was advanced to scoring position by Talenfeld. Saladrigas hit a long shot to left which resulted in a ground rule doubled to even the game at 2-2.

Looking as if the game could head into extras for the third straight time, Florida Southern scored the winning run in bottom of the seventh off an error with two outs.

Sarradet (14-6) suffered the loss, scattering nine hits and striking out four.

Christine Clark (22-12) earned her second win over NSU, only allowing four hits and one walk to secure the series win.

The Sharks will have to wait until May 9th to see if they will receive a bid to the NCAA South Regional Tournament that will take place, May 13-15, in a location to be determined.