FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern softball team (2-0) will begin its 13-game road trip Friday in the Eckerd Spring Invitational, held at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida from Feb. 6-8.
 
Fans making the trek up to Clearwater can buy tickets at the following rates: $8 for single day session, $15 for the weekend and $20 for all-inclusive tournament pass. Click HERE for the entire schedule and other information.
 
Below is NSU's schedule for the weekend with field assignments:
2:30 p.m. - Nova Southeastern vs. Colorado Christian (Field 1)
4:30 p.m. - Harding vs. Nova Southeastern (Field 1)
11:00 a.m. - Nova Southeastern vs. Young Harris (Field 4)
1:30 p.m. - Nova Southeastern vs. Shorter (Field 4)
9:00 a.m. -Lindenwood vs. Nova Southeastern (Field 4)
 
All game times are subject to change throughout the day. NSUSharks.com will provide live audio and live stats for all games throughout the tournament, click on the softball schedule link above for links to each game.
 
NSU enters the game undefeated after an opening-day doubleheader sweep of Ave Maria. NSU won on a walk-off hit in the eighth inning of game one to take a 5-4 victory. In game two, NSU controlled throughout to take a 5-2 win. Lorena Spaulding (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) went 5-for-5 over two games to take the opening Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week honor.
 
Below is information regarding the Sharks' five opponents this weekend:
 
Colorado Christian
The Colorado Christian Cougars, out of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, finished 2014 with a record of 21-28, 17-19 in conference, placing them 10th out of 13 teams. The Cougars are led by Sarah Rasmussen, who hit seven home runs last season, and twins Danielle and Jessica Romine. The sisters hit .295 and .309, respectively, and combined for 25 for extra base hits, 59 RBI and 24 stolen bases. NSU will look to avenge last season's 7-4 loss to the Cougars at the Eckerd Spring Invitational.
 
Harding
The Harding Lady Bisons are coming a 32-26 2014 season, and finished fourth in the Great American Conference. The squad returns the bulk of last year's squad, which did not carry any seniors. The Lady Bisons began their season with a sweep of Christian Brothers (9-1, 18-8) and earned both GAC Players of the Week honors. Infielder Marley Edwards went 6-for-7 with five RBI and five runs scored, while pitcher Amber Rollins struck out five in six innings in the team's first victory by the Eight-Run Rule.
 
Young Harris
The Mountain Lions also started the weekend 2-0 after defeating Brevard 8-0 (six inn.) and 4-2 on Jan. 31. Darby Stanford scattered three hits and struck out five in the complete-game victory in the opener. While Stanford serves as the ace in the circle, the offense is led by All-Peach Belt Conference Preseason outfielder Sydnee Weaver, who hit .396 in 2014. Young Harris is coming off a 2014 campaign in which they went 20-33 and 8-12 in the Peach Belt.
 
Shorter
NSU will be facing Shorter for the first time in program history Saturday. The Lady Hawks were one of the premier teams in the south region last year, but as they are transitioning into NCAA Division II, Shorter was not eligible for NCAA postseason. Despite that, Shorter went 41-10 and won the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship. According to their season preview, "making Shorter a team to be reckoned with is the return of a pair of Lady Hawks who became the program's first-ever Preseason All-GSC Team selections, senior pitcher Maddie Bray and sophomore first baseman Ericka Bynum."
 
Lindenwood
The Sharks will look to earn its first win in history over Lindenwood, currently holing a 0-2 record against the Lions. Both losses were close and separated in time, once coming by a score of 4-3 in 2012 and the other 3-2 in 2003. Last season, the Lions went 22-29 and 3-6 on a neutral field. The team returns infielder Hannah Braun, who hit .345 in 2014 with a team-best 27 runs.