GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (23-18, 5-12 SSC) got out to a dominating start in game one with an 8-0 win against the Saint Leo Lions (21-23, 5-9 SSC) but stumbled in game two, falling 4-3 Saturday evening at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.

 

GAME ONE
The combination of hot bats and strong pitching from starter Lexi Sarradet (Sr., Miami, Fla.), allowed the Sharks to roll through game one in just five innings with an 8-0 win.

 

NSU totaled a season-high 14 hits as the Sharks scored four runs in the first and four in the fifth to complete their fifth run-rule win of the season.

 

Sophomore Laura Saladrigas (So., Hollywood, Fla.) and freshman Dani Millan (Fr., Ventura, Calif.) both finished with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

 

Junior Katie Kelton (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) both recorded multi-hit performances with two hits a piece.

 

Sarradet (8-4) was nearly untouchable as she only gave up three hits and struck out five, while limiting herself to 60 pitches in game one. The righty also did not surrender a walk in the victory.

 

The Shark bats scored four runs in the first on four hits. Kelton was hit by a pitch to start the game. After senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) singled to left, Saladrigas drilled a double to left center, plating Kelton and Talenfeld for an early 2-0 lead. Bondarenko stepped to the plate and hit an infield single and later scored on a Saint Leo error. Millan also recorded an RBI in the frame as the Sharks saw a 4-0 lead.

 

Sarradet was perfect through three innings, but Saint Leo found a hole and recorded back-to-back hits to lead off the fourth but between great defense and Sarradet strikeouts, Saint Leo could not get a runner to third.

 

Still holding a four-run lead after four and a half innings of play, NSU strung together five hits and four runs to end the ball game.

 

Freshman Holly Roberson (Dunnellon, Fla.) dropped down a bunt single to easily put herself on first to lead off the inning. Junior Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) roped a double to left field, allowing Roberson to score from first for the Sharks fifth run. With two runners in scoring position after Millan singled and advanced to second on a throw home and DeMuth on third, freshman Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.) lined a single to left, scoring both runs.

 

With two outs and runners on second and third, the Lions decided to intentionally walk the Sharks’ RBI leader, Saladrigas, to load the bases. Bondarenko was clutch in the situation, driving home the winning run.

 

Megan Still (9-7) suffered the loss only pitching 0.1 inning. The righty surrendered four hits and four runs while only having faced seven batters in the game.

 

Despite the Sharks not giving up an earned run, the Saint Leo Lions took a win in game two, 4-3.

 

NSU was first to strike, scoring two runs with two outs in the first. Talenfeld started things off with a bunt single down the first base line. Bondarenko got one of her two hits moving Talenfeld to third. Bondarenko forced a throw down to second on the attempted steal but was safe and Talenfeld scurried home for the first run.

 

Millan drove her fourth consecutive hit to right center for a double and also plated home Bondarenko as NSU went up 2-0.

 

DeMuth was strong in the opening innings on the mound, throwing three perfect innings. In the fourth, DeMuth relinquished her first hit which resulted in an unearned run for the Lions.

 

Saint Leo mustered three unanswered runs with two outs in the fifth and took a 4-2 lead.

 

The Sharks scored their final run on a Bondarenko single after Talenfeld and Saladrigas both reached on a walk in the home half of the fifth.

 

Both Devin Higginbotham (Sr., Palatka, Fla.) and Sarradet pitched in relief, and did not surrender a run and held the Lions to four hits. Sarradet struck out five more in just 2.0 innings of work.

 

DeMuth falls to 9-10 in the circle as she threw 4.2 innings, giving up two hits and two walks.

 

The Sharks and Lions conclude tomorrow’s game at 1 p.m. for NSU’s StrikeOut Cancer Event and will partner up with the American Cancer Society and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

The StrikeOut Cancer program is an initiative of the American Cancer Society and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association to help fight cancer by leveraging the personal experience, community leadership and professional excellence of fastpitch softball coaches nationwide. Coaches across the country work to increase cancer education and promote healthy living through awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. StrikeOut Cancer provides critical mission outreach, while raising funds in support of the society’s lifesaving efforts to eliminate cancer as a life threatening disease.

Fans, even though admission is free, are asked to donate several dollars when they walk through the gate, with the funds donated to the fight against cancer.

The fans at the NSU softballl game will receive a pink T-shirt to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Prizes will also be given throughout the game.

CA Tolchinsky is one of NSU’s own that has been affected with breast cancer. She is the Manager of Student-Athlete Academic Services and will be throwing out the first pitch. Unfortunately breast cancer is a very familiar subject within her family. In 1988, her mom died at age 56 from breast cancer. On December 31, 2010, her only aunt, Aunt Gerry, died from breast cancer. She was 79. Just this past August, her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy. Ironically, Tochinsky was diagnosed only one month later with breast cancer and had surgery in February and will start chemo shortly.

She is only 45 years old, the mother of 2 young children, and like so many women, has had to battle this disease head on.

All being treated for cancer or cancer survivors are encouraged to attend Sunday’s event to be acknowledged. Please email Adam Tsakonas, NSU’s Marketing Coordinator, at at507@nova.edu or call him at 954-262-1599 if you are planning to attend Sunday’s event.

 

For the game results, be sure to check www.NSUSharks.com or sign up to have results sent directly to your cell phone by signing up for SMS text messages by clicking here. For the weekly NSU Shark Athletic news, please sign up for the Shark Alert E-Newsletter by clicking here.