Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern softball team (18-14, 6-4 SSC) shutout the Lynn Fighting Knights (18-19, 2-11 SSC), 9-0, in a run-rule ending Friday, March 28th at the Lynn Softball Field.
The Sharks performed on both offense and defense to take the shutout win. Erika Garcia (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) earned the victory, allowing no runs and seven hits. Garcia also delivered on the plate, going 3-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored. Katrina Ammons (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) had her best performance of the season, going 2-for-2, notching two RBI on her second homerun of the season and scoring three runs. Gina Bondarenko (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) had a breakout game, going 2-for-3 and bringing three RBI, one in a solo homerun.
In the first at-bat of the game, Lorena Spaulding (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was walked to first. Samira Tanaka (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil) advanced her to second and Spaulding advanced to further into scoring position off a wild pitch. Garcia brought her home on a single up the middle. Next at bat, Ammons rocketed one past right field with a runner on base, giving the Sharks the early 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Fighting Knights' first scoring threat of the game came in the bottom of the first. A single and a walk put two players on base. With only one out, a fielder's choice and error filled the bases for Lynn. NSU's defense avoided the score to maintain their 3-0 lead into the second.
In the first at bat in the second, Bondarenko slammed a leadoff homerun to left field, pushing the Sharks' lead to 4-0.
In the bottom of the second, the Sharks avoided another scoring threat. A base hit and fielder's choice put two Fighting Knights on base. A sac bunt by Danielle McNeill advanced both runners to third and second. With two outs on the board, the Sunshine State Conference leader in RBI, Devin Kochergen, came to bat. The Sharks earned the third out on a fielder's choice with a tag at second base.
In the bottom of the third. Tanaka set up the Sharks' second scoring drive with a single up the middle. Garcia, who leads the SSC in doubles with 12, improved her mark with a double to left center, advancing Tanaka to third. Next at bat, Ammons drew a walk. With one out and bases loaded, Dakota Villella (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.) notched two RBI with a line drive to right field. She would later stealing second base. Next, Bondarenko reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Ammons to score. Courtney Bridge (Fr., Port Coquitlam, Canada) brought the final RBI of the inning off a bunt single to bring Villella home, putting the Sharks up 8-0
.
NSU scored their last run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, led off by a Garcia base hit. Ammons follows with a single down centerfield to advance Shelby Cogan (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), pinch running for Garcia, to second. Villella filled the bases with a bunt single. With two outs on the board, Bondarenko slammed the ball down centerfield for her third RBI of the game, sealing the Sharks final score.
The Knights gave one more scare before the game ended, as back-to-back singles put runners on base in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs on the board, Sara Vazquez hit the sacrifice bunt that allowed the Knights to sit in scoring position. The defense avoided a run off a diving catch by Bridge in left field. Garcia was perfect in the fifth, sealing the run-rule win.
The shutout win extends the Sharks' winning streak to six, the longest of the season.
The Sharks will return to the field Saturday to face the Fighting Knights in a doubleheader, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
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