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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After spending the last two weekends competing in tournaments in Pensacola and Clearwater, the Nova Southeastern softball team (5-6) returns home for a five-game homestand that begins with a doubleheader against Northwood (3-3) at the AD Griffin Sports Complex Thursday at 5 p.m.
The Sharks will also play a single game against Texas Woman’s (3-2) Friday at 5 p.m. before hosting West Florida (4-5) for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
NSU played five games last weekend at the Eckerd Tritons Tournament, picking up three wins over quality opponents. The Sharks kicked off the tournament with a shutout win over Georgia College and State.
Laura Saladrigas (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) picked up her second win of the season, allowing only four hits.
Sara DeMuth (Sr., Plant City, Fla.) was credited with NSU’s two other victories, a 3-1 decision over Flager and then a 6-4 win over Saint Leo. DeMuth notched a career-high 14 strikeouts against previously unbeaten Flagler and finished the tournament with 37 total strikeouts, appearing in four games.
Senior
Katie Kelton (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) went 7-for-15 at the plate, knocking in three runs to pace the Sharks offensively.
Gina Bondarenko (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) slammed her first home run of the season against Lindenwood, while Saladrigas hit her fourth of the year against Saint Leo.
Northwood
The Seahawks enter Thursday’s matchup with a 3-3 record. Northwood, a member of The Sun Conference in the NAIA, is coming off a pair of lopsided victories over Edward Waters Feb. 13 after beginning the season by losing two games to Miami Dade Feb. 3. In between, the Seahawks split a doubleheader with Indian River.
The Sharks hold a 49-1 series lead over the Seahawks. NSU had won 49 consecutive games against Northwood, before the Seahawks captured a 5-4 win at home over the Sharks last season on Feb. 19.
Texas Woman’s
The Pioneers make the trip to Fort Lauderdale carrying a 3-2 record this season. TWU will play an unconventional doubleheader Friday evening at the Griffin Sports Complex, facing the Sharks at 5 p.m. and then taking on West Florida right after.
TWU secured back-to-back wins over Missouri Southern by scores of 14-8 and 1-0 at the Abilene Christian Tournament in Abilene, Texas Feb. 10. Freshman Kendra Sancet is one of four Pioneers batting over .400 through the first five games of the season. Sancet, who is leading the Pioneers with five RBI, is tied with Bailey Vrazel with a team-high seven hits.
Friday’s game will represent the first meeting ever between TWU and NSU. Fans in attendance at the NSU Softball Complex will have the opportunity to compete in a bingo contest between innings. Winners will receive gift cards to Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.
West Florida
Saturday’s doubleheader against the Argos will represent the third and fourth meetings between NSU and UWF. The Argos opened their season with a sweep of the Sharks Feb.4 as the host of the West Florida Crossover Tournament. Both of the games were decided by a single run. The Argos then proceeded to lose their next five games before topping Palm Beach Atlantic and Lynn at the Eckerd Tournament this past weekend.
Jordan Ratliff, who was credited with a victory over NSU in Pensacola, holds a 2-2 record with a 1.37 ERA in six total appearances. Emma Johanson paces the Argos with 10 hits in 28 plate appearances for a batting average of .358.
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