LMU BOX SCORE|YHC BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Nova Southeastern softball team (12-10) hit three homeruns over the course of two games and received solid pitching from
Sara DeMuth (Sr., Plant City, Fla.) and
Laura Saladrigas (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) to take victories over Lincoln Memorial, 8-0, and Young Harris, 6-3.
Lincoln Memorial Recap
Chelsea Emery (Jr., Eustis, Fla.) hit her first homerun in a Shark uniform, while DeMuth struck out seven batters, as NSU took down Lincoln Memorial, 8-0, on day two of the Cougar Classic hosted by Columbus State.
The Sharks got the bats going early against the Railsplitters, posting three runs in the bottom of the first.
Lorena Spaulding (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.) and
Jaimee Vega (Jr., Loxahatchee, Fla.) each reached safely via infield singles as the first two batters for the Sharks.
That brought up
Katie Kelton (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.), who drove a 1-1 pitch to right center allowing both base runners to come around and score, putting NSU ahead 2-0. Kelton was able to score two batters later as she stole third and the throw down attempt went by the Railsplitter covering third, allowing her to run home safely.
The NSU advantage increased to 4-0 in the bottom of the third as
Dani Millan (So., Ventura, Calif.) grounded out to the third baseman, giving Kelton the opportunity to score again.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Sharks added another tally to the scoreboard, as Spaulding was able to score after an error by the Railspitters’ short stop.
The Sharks closed out the game in the fifth inning thanks to a three-run homerun off the bat of first baseman Emery. With one out and runners on second and third, Emery crushed a 1-0 pitch over the right center wall to put NSU up 8-0, calling the game via mercy rule in the Sharks’ favor.
Young Harris Recap
NSU rallied from a three-run deficit to take down the Mountain Lions from Young Harris, 6-3, in the final game of the Cougar Classic for the Sharks. DeMuth earned her second win of the day in relief and Kelton went 2-for-3 for the second straight game to help lead NSU to victory.
The Mountain Lions struck first in the top of the third, registering a trio of runs. Emily Wilson doubled to right center to bring in two base runners. Wilson was able to score two batters later on a passed ball to put Young Harris up 3-0 in the game.
The Sharks got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, as Saladrigas recorded her sixth homerun of the season, setting a new single-season high just 22 games into the 2012 campaign.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Sharks loaded the bases with their first hitters, which brought a pitching change for Young Harris. The Mountain Lions were able to get one lead runner at the plate, but Emery singled through the left side in the next at bat to bring home two Sharks and even the score, 3-3.
DeMuth came in to pitch in the sixth inning and made an immediate impact, striking out the first batter she saw. After Young Harris put a base runner on, Kelton made a great sliding catch in shallow center field and then threw out the runner trying to tag up at first to get NSU out of the inning.
DeMuth made her presence in the game known at the plate too, leading off the bottom half of the inning with her first homerun of the season, a shot that cleared the outfield wall in right center. The Sharks would add two insurance runs later in the inning as Gina Bondarenko hit a hard ground ball through the third baseman’s legs to allow Kelton and Vega to score.
Young Harris would be shut down in the top of the seventh with DeMuth tallying two more strikeouts and ensuring the 6-3 win in favor of NSU.
The Sharks went 2-2 at the Cougar Classic and will remain in Columbus, Ga. for a doubleheader against Columbus State Monday beginning at 11 a.m.
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