BOX SCORE

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Senior Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) sat down 12 Eckerd batters to record her first no-hitter this season, propelling the Nova Southeastern softball team (18-15, 3-4 SSC) past Eckerd (9-22, 1-3 SSC), 4-0, Friday evening.
 
It was a pitcher’s duel early between DeMuth and Eckerd’s Kaitlyn Dougherty, as the game remained scoreless through the first four innings. The best opportunity for a run scored came in the top of the fourth for NSU. After DeMuth struck out the side in the bottom of the third, Lorena Spaulding (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) made her way over to third base after a walk and two sacrifice bunts from Katie Kelton (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Melanie Spicola (Fr., Umatilla, Fla.). Unfortunately, Spaulding would be stranded there and the score would remain 0-0.
 
After two more strikeouts from DeMuth in a three up, three down fourth inning, the Sharks’ bats came alive in the top of the fifth. The bottom half of the Sharks’ batting order, hitters six through nine each recorded singles and scored runs. Ashley Silveira (So., Miami, Fla.) knocked the first hit of the inning and DeMuth followed suit with a shot to centerfield. Raven Sepulveda (Fr., Tampa, Fla.) loaded the bases with a bunt single down the third base line.
 
Jaimee Vega (Jr., Loxhatchee, Fla.) broke the scoreless tie, driving a single through the infield to bring home two NSU base runners. Spaulding then walked to reload the bases, which allowed Kelton to be credited with a RBI in the next at bat when she was hit by a pitch. The Sharks’ fourth run came by way of a sacrifice bunt from Spicola to give NSU a 4-0 lead.
 
DeMuth, who had command of a wide variety of her pitches Friday evening, struck out five more Tritons through the final three innings to finish with 12 and bring her season total to 184.
 
NSU and Eckerd will be back on the field Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.