Box Score BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern softball team (23-24, 6-16 SSC) dropped game one of their three-game series to the No. 15 Tampa Spartans (26-8, 14-5 SSC), 2-0, Friday at the Naimoli Family Field.
Tampa was able put up both of their runs in the first, both of which were unearned against
Erika Garcia (6-5).
Garcia pitched all six innings for the Sharks, allowing just three hits and striking out three Spartan batters.
“We had a great pitching performance by Garcia and we played great defense despite the three errors,” said head coach Lesa Bonee.
Spartans pitcher Kayla Cox (20-4) gave NSU a tough time at the plate, allowing only two hits and striking out 10 batters.
“Offensively we did not control the box,” said Bonee “We guessed way too much and we just did not handle Cox well.”
When asked about what the team needs to change for the doubleheader on Saturday, Bonee emphasized hitting. “We’ve got to shorten up our swings tomorrow and make adjustments sooner,” she said.
The Sharks got its first batter of the game on base in the third inning after a Cox pitch hit leadoff hitter
Marissa Raimo (Sr., Hampton Bays, N.Y.). Raimo moved to second on a
Elizabeth Spring (Fr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) sacrifice bunt. NSU’s next two batters were retired, leaving Raimo on second.
Samira Tanaka (Jr., Sao Paulo, Brazil) recorded the first NSU hit in the fourth inning. She lifted the ball over the third basemen’s head into shallow left for a base hit, but was later thrown out on a stolen base attempt.
The Sharks pressured the Tampa defense again in the fifth, after speedy leadoff hitter
Melanie Spicola (So., Umatilla, Fla.) forced a throwing error by the third basemen.
Chelsea Emery (Sr., Eustis, Fla.) was able to move Spicola to second on a well-hit sacrifice bunt, but again, Cox retired the next two batters to strand a Shark in scoring position.
“When we put the ball in play tonight we made things happen," said Bonee. "So we just have to do that again tomorrow, better.”
In the seventh inning Garcia gave the team some hope with a one-out double off the right-centerfield fence. However, that was the closest the Sharks would get, after Cox retired the final two batters of the game.
The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.
The game will be available via live audio HERE and live stats HERE. Follow the Sharks on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/NSUSharks.
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