Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BOX SCORE VS GC | BOX SCORE VS CCU
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (5-1) won both of its games on day one of the 2013 Eckerd College Spring Invitational, beating the Georgia College Bobcats (4-1), 4-0, and then winning in extra innings to top the Colorado Christian Cougars (0-1), 4-3.
Melanie Spicola (So., Umatilla, Fla.) went 3-for-6 on the day, tallying an RBI and adding a run. Spicola also made huge defensive plays in game two to lead the Sharks into the extra-inning victory.
Jennie Von Doellen (Jr., Hudson Bay, Canada), struck out eight batters on day, extending her total to 19 on the year.
GAME ONE AGAINST GCU
The Sharks handed Georgia College its first loss of the season, as three runs in the fourth inning was enough to lead NSU to its fourth win of the year.
In the fourth,
Shelby Talon (Fr., Boynton Beach, Fla.) started the scoring for the Sharks, when she recorded her first RBI in her collegiate career, doubling down the left field line and bringing in
Chelsea Emery (Sr., Eustis, Fla.) from second base. The next at-bat saw
Erika Garcia (Jr, Miami, Fla.) diving home safely on a close play at the plate, stretching the score to 2-0. The Sharks kept up the pressure when the next batter,
Melanie Spicola (So., Umatilla, Fla.) dropped down a sacrifice bunt, bring home the speedy Talon.
Von Doellen (2-1) pitched seven solid innings, striking out five and allowing only six hits.
The final run of the game came when
Ashley Silveira (Sr., Miami, Fla.) was able to drop a ball over the shortstop’s head, bringing in Spicola from third.
The Sharks’ six hits came from six different batters, giving NSU a convincing first win in the tournament.
GAME TWO VS CCU
Lorena Spaulding (So.,Pembroke Pines, Fla.) ended a grueling nine-inning battle, when in the bottom of the ninth she was able to line a ball down the left field line over the third baseman’s head, bringing home
Elizabeth Spring (Fr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) from third base.
NSU built a lead in the bottom of the third, when
Samira Tanaka (Jr., Sao Paulo, Brazil) reached home on poor decision-making from the Cougars defense on a
Chrissy Tabulov (Fr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) bunt. Later in the inning,
Laura Saladrigas (Sr. Hollywood, Fla.) single brought in Silveira and Spicola, giving the Sharks a commanding 3-0 lead.
After two runs in the fifth, Colorado Christian got the game-tying run in the top of the seventh, when Melanie Lusi’s triple to deep right center brought in a runner from second, making the score 3-3. Saladrigas was able to force the next batter to line out to send the game into extra innings.
Von Doellen (3-1) took over pitching duties in extras, striking out three batters in two innings to preserve the win.
Along with the game-winning RBI, Spaulding had a team-high three hits, the most hits in a single game from a Shark this season.
The Sharks will face Sunshine State foe Florida Southern, tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 9.
The first pitch is slated for 11 a.m and fans can follow the game via live audio HERE and live stats HERE.
For the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit www.NSUSharks.com. To have results sent directly to your cell phone via text message, sign up for SMS text message delivery by clicking here. For the latest news, be sure to sign up for the Shark Alert E-newsletter by clicking here.
