BOX SCORE
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Sara DeMuth (Sr., Plant City, Fla.) rang up 12 batters, but the Pioneers from Texas Woman’s (4-2) topped the Nova Southeastern softball team (7-7), 6-4, at the AD Griffin Sports Complex Friday evening.
Three of DeMuth’s strikeouts came in the first inning when the Sharks needed them to halt the Pioneers who had put runners on second and third. With Bailey Vrazel on third and Addison Staley on second, DeMuth got the next three batters to swing at third strikes to get NSU out of an early jam.
In the top of the second, the Pioneers were able to take advantage of its base runners, putting four runs on the board. A Sharks’ error allowed the Pioneers to post their first two runs before Staley singled to the left side of the infield to score Lizzy Kelly. A Kendra Sancet RBI sacrifice fly to left field ended the scoring for the Pioneers, but put NSU in a 4-0 hole.
The next three innings produced little in terms of offense for either squad, as DeMuth added four strikeouts to her total.
TWU added another run in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 5-0. The Sharks’ offense awoke in the bottom half of the inning, as
Lorena Spaulding (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and
Katie Kelton (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) each singled to reach safely.
Ashley Silveira (Jr., Miami, Fla.) then hit a shot down the left field line to bring around Spaulding for NSU’s first run.
Gina Bondarenko (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit the fourth straight single of the inning to load the bases for the Sharks. Two batter later,
Raven Sepulveda (Fr., Tampa, Fla.) earned a tough RBI, getting hit by a pitch to force home pinch-running
Marissa Raimo (Jr., Hampton Bays, N.Y.). The Pioneers would stop the scoring there though, as Larisa Garcia would strike out the Sharks’ batter.
Jordan Readicker led off the top of the seventh with a home run off the centerfield scoreboard to put TWU up by four, 6-2. The Sharks came up in the bottom of the seventh with one last chance to even up the game. Spaulding reached base thanks to a bunt single and Silveira walked to give NSU a pair of base runners with two outs.
Bondarenko slammed her second hit of the game, a double to deep left field that allowed the two Sharks on base to score.
Laura Saladrigas (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) represented the tying run at the plate in the next at bat, but she struck out and the Pioneers slipped away with a 6-4 victory.
Silveira and Spaulding each went 2-for-3 at the dish. DeMuth now has 86 strikeouts this season in 61.1 innings pitched.
The Sharks will return to the diamond Saturday morning, taking on West Florida in a doubleheader that will start at 11 a.m. The Argos won the first two meetings this season against the Sharks, 3-2 and 10-9, at the West Florida Crossover Tournament.
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