LINDENWOOD BOX|FLAGLER BOX
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern softball team (4-6) went 1-1 for the second straight day at the Eckerd College Tritons Tournament, falling to Lindenwood (1-3), 4-3 in the afternoon before knocking off the previously undefeated Saints from Flagler (7-1), 3-1, getting a career-high 14 strikeouts from
Sara DeMuth (Sr., Plant City, Fla.).
Lindenwood Recap
The Sharks fell behind by three runs in the bottom of the second inning and was unable to catch Lindenwood (1-3) after the Lions added a fourth in bottom of the fifth, falling 4-3 in its first game Saturday at the Eckerd College Tournament.
Hannah Braun, batting in the nine hole for the Lions, posted the first two runs for Lindenwood when she singled up the middle to drive in Kim Jordan and Kendall Ryndak. Deirdre Merli plated Bailey Marshall in the next at bat with a double to left field.
After a pitching change, the Sharks used some nice fielding to get out of the inning. Emily Johnson attempted to lay down a bunt, but
Melanie Spicola (Fr., Umatilla, Fla.) scooped it up and threw her out at first where
Raven Sepulveda (Fr., Tampa, Fla.) was covering from second. Sepulveda then threw a dart to
Marissa Raimo (Jr., Hampton Bays, N.Y.) who tagged out Braun attempting to score on the play from third.
NSU got two runs back in the top of the fifth thanks to a home run from
Gina Bondarenko (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.).
Holly Roberson (So., Dunnellon, Fla.) led off the inning pinch hitting for Raimo. Roberson recorded her first hit in her first at bat of the season, singling to center. Bondarenko then stepped up and sent the first pitch see saw sailing over the left field wall.
The Lions responded with another run in the bottom half of the fifth. In the seventh, the Sharks began to put together a comeback, as
Lorena Spaulding (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and
Katie Kelton (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) each reached on singles.
Ashley Silveira (Jr., Miami, Fla.) came up next and knocked in Spaulding to get the Sharks within one. Unfortunately, it would be the only run the Sharks would plate and the Lions would walk away with the victory, 4-3.
Laura Saladrigas (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) began the game in the circle for the Sharks and was credited with the loss before DeMuth took over in relief, recording six strikeouts. Ryndak improved to 1-1 for the Lions.
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Flagler Recap
NSU pounded out seven hits, while DeMuth sat down 14 Flagler batters and allowed only four hits to give the Sharks a 3-1 win over the Saints, who came into the game 7-0.
The Sharks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, as Vega led off with a double, Kelton was hit by a pitch and Saladrigas walked. Bondarenko, batting cleanup, drove in Vega with a bloop single to shallow left field to give the Sharks the lead 1-0.
The Saints came right back in the top of the second, with Kaycee Lisa sending a shot over the right center wall to even the game at 1-1.
NSU loaded the bases again in the bottom of the second.
Chelsea Emery (Jr., Eustis Fla.), Spicola and Vega reached safely to bring up Kelton. The senior hit a fly ball out to left field where it was caught, but Kelton earned a sacrifice fly on the play, with Raimo scoring as a pinch runner.
The Sharks added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth with Saladrigas getting credited with the RBI. Vega singled early and then Kelton pushed her around to third with a single of her own, as both those hits going out to right center. Saladrigas then hit a sacrifice fly to the right fielder, plating Vega.
DeMuth would add five more strikeouts to her already growing tally through the Saints final three turns at the plate to finish the game with 14 and capture a 3-1 victory, improving her record in the circle to 2-4.
Of the Sharks seven hits, Vega accounted for three of them, while also scoring two of the runs. Kelton was 1-for-1 with a RBI, while Bindarenko, Silveira and Spicola each went 1-for-3 from at the dish.
The Sharks have one game remaining at the Eckerd Tournament, a 9 a.m. tilt Sunday morning against Saint Leo.
