Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
ST. LEO, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern softball team (11-10) split its first two games in the Saint Leo Tournament, falling to Francis Marion, 1-0, in the first game then taking the 5-1 win in the second game between them.
Game One
The game was held scoreless until the bottom of the third inning. A miscommunication by the Sharks in left field allowed Francis Marion to score the only run of the game in the bottom of the third. With two outs on the board, the Patriots' Kristie Hanewickle popped up to left field for a routine out, but two Sharks defenders withdrew from the play and let the ball fall. The winning pitcher of the game, Taylor Luff, scored the game-winning run.
Luff held the Sharks to only one hit in seven innings of play, striking out 15 and walking three.
Melanie Spicola (Jr., Umatilla, Fla.) notched the only hit for the Sharks in the top of the fifth, doubling to left field.
Jennie Von Doellen (Sr., Hudson Bay, Canada) pitched seven innings, only allowing four hits, one run and two walks.
Game Two
The Sharks totaled nine hits in the second game, with four different players notching two.
Erika Garcia (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) recorded three RBI, Spicola went 3-for-3 and brought in two runs while
Dakota Villella (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.) scored an extra three runs for the Sharks.
Villella was set up for the first run in the game after bunting and stealing second. Garcia brought her home with a RBI single, giving the Sharks the early 1-0 lead.
NSU advanced its lead in the top of the fourth to 3-0. Francis Marion's starting pitcher, Katie Carnes, started the scoring drive for the Sharks by walking Spicola, who would go on to steal second. Next at bat, Vilella singled and advanced on a throw to third, allowing Spicola to score.
Lorena Spaulding (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) notched her RBI with a single to the shortstop, bringing Villella home.
Garcia brought two RBI in the top of the sixth to put the Sharks up, 5-0. Back-to-back singles by Spicola and Villella set up the scoring play for Garcia. Garcia singled and advanced to second on the throw, allowing both Villella and Spicola to score.
FMU avoided the shutout in the sixth, as Kristie Hanewinkle tripled to right field. Ashley Burney brought her home with a RBI double.
The Sharks will be back on the field Sunday morning to play back-to-back games starting at 9 a.m. against Lincoln Memorial and No. 6 Atlantic Armstrong.
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