Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (2-0) picked up a pair of wins on opening day over the Ave Maria Gyrenes (0-2) Sunday at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.

GAME ONE
Ave Maria came to play in game one and took the fight to NSU. The Gyrenes opened up the score in the first inning, before an error put a runner on base that would eventually score in the second inning. Although the Sharks could not find a hit in the first two innings, they were able to stop the opposing offense in the third.
 
In the bottom of the third, NSU took advantage of a pair of errors to crack into Ave Maria's lead. Dakota Villella (So., Hollywood, Fla.) reached on an infield error and advanced to second on a walk. The pitcher, Rebecca Thornton (So., Lodi, Calif.), batted into a hard infield error that allowed Villella to round the bases and cut the deficit in half. Thornton followed up her RBI with a perfect, 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, NSU would finally put its first hit on the board, a big double down the left field line from Maegan Lee (So., Miami, Fla.). However, NSU stranded her at second base and a pair of errors in the next inning allowed Ave Maria to go up, 3-1. NSU looked to start another rally in the in the fifth but could not move runners past second base.
 
The Sharks had their best inning of work in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Jessie Brown (Davie, Fla.) was called on to pinch hit and leadoff, and she came through with a single on the first pitch she saw. Brown advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, before Lee drove her home with her second hit of the day, a single up the middle. Unfortunately, Lee would represent the stranded tying runner at second once again.
 
In the seventh, the Sharks defense fought out of a tough spot, stranding two Gyrenes in scoring position. With momentum on their side, Te Reo Powhiri Matautia (Jr., Auckland, New Zealand) and Thornton began the second with back-to-back singles. Pinch runners Courtney Bridge (Sr., Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) and Lorena Spaulding (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) entered and played a vital role in the outcome.
 
With one out, Brown hit fly ball out to centerfield that was initially called a hit. In the ensuing rundown, Spaulding beat out a pickle to advance to second base, while Bridge scored from second. A 10 minute delay would follow, as the umpires worked through the play with both coaches. In the end, the score stayed 3-3, while Brown was called out on the fly ball, setting up extra innings on opening day.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Sharks' fourth error put a runner on base that would eventually put the Sharks behind. Ave Maria's McKayla Jeter knocked a double to left field that drove home what the visiting team hoped would be the final run of the game. That would not be the case, with the Sharks scoring on a rally that was opened up with three straight singles.
 
Drama ensued with the bases loaded and no outs on the board. All-Sun Conference pitcher Cheyenne Benson earned back-to-back strikeouts before shockingly hitting Thornton to drive in a run. On the next at bat, Spaulding hit a single through the left side that drove home Haley Gonzales (Fr., Boca Raton, Fla.) for the walk off win.
 
Lee finished the game with a run and a RBI on 3-for-4 hitting. Thornton had a game-high 2 RBI, while earning a win in the circle. She pitched all eight frames and allowed just one earned run while striking out five batters. 

GAME TWO
Carly Comito (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) started game two in the circle and was efficient out of the gate. Comito was perfect through the first two innings, and didn't throw a ball until her sixth batter faced. The Sharks were able to reach scoring position in the first two innings, but could not take an early advantage. That misfortune turned in the third, when Spaulding led off with an infield single, stole second and was bunted over to third. Matuatia put the Sharks ahead with a standup double down the right field line that scored Spaulding.
 
NSU posted a pair of runs on the board in the fourth on a rally begun by Katrina Ammons (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.), who hit a leadoff single to right field. Villella pinch ran for her and stole second, followed by a single and stolen base from Angilica Montalvo (Fr., Miami, Fla.). With runners in scoring position, Spaulding drove them both home with another RBI single.
 
Ave Maria broke through in the fifth frame and scored a pair of runs, bringing the score to 3-2. The Gyrenes had the tying runner in scoring position, but could not equalize. The Sharks held serve in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs of their own. Lee hit a RBI double to left centerfield that drove home Thornton. In the next at bat, Ammons came through with another timely hit, this time a RBI double down the right field line. NSU carried a 5-2 lead into the sixth inning and held the Gyrenes scoreless in the final two frames to seal the win.
 
Spaulding started game two in the leadoff spot and came through with a 4-for-4 performance. She scored a run and had two RBI. Matuatia and Ammons each went 2-for-3 overall. Comito was impressive throughout, holding Ave Maria to two earned runs and six hits. She recorded only one walk in the contest.  
 
The Sharks will hit the road for their longest road trip of the season, beginning Friday in the Eckerd College Tournament against  Colorado Christian at 2:30 p.m.