Box Score CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (5-2) finished a five-game weekend with a 7-1 win over the Lindenwood Lions (0-3) Sunday morning at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. NSU finished the Eckerd Spring Invitational with a 3-2 record.
Katrina Ammons (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.) led the offense with two walks, two RBI and her third home run of the season.
Lorena Spaulding (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and
Te Reo Powhiri Matautia (Jr., Auckland, New Zealand) each went 2-for-4, with Spaulding earning a pair of RBI and Matautia scoring twice.
In the circle,
Rebecca Thornton (4-0) earned the win with another strong performance. Thornton gave up a run in the first inning, but rebounded by pitching six scoreless frames. She held the Lions to six hits, half of which came in the first, and struck out two batters without allowing a walk.
After the initial Lindenwood run in the first inning, NSU played from behind until the third inning.
Shelby Cogan (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) became the Sharks' first base runner with a leadoff walk. She was batted over to third with two groundouts before Spaulding tied the game with a RBI single up the middle.
NSU took control of the game in the fourth with a trio of runs. Matautia led off with a double to left centerfield. Strong base running would not be needed to take the lead, with Ammons following up with her third home run to right field, giving NSU a 3-1 lead. After the bomb, NSU tacked another on with small ball at the back of the lineup. NSU earned singles in three of the next five at bats to fill the bases. With two outs, Spaulding pelted the ball to second base and beat out the throw, clearing
Maegan Lee (So., Miami, Fla.) to cross the plate for a run.
NSU scored its final three runs in the fifth, taking advantage of miscues from the Lindenwood defense. A walk and a fielding error put Matautia and pinch runner
Courtney Bridge (Sr., Port Coquitlem, British Columbia) in scoring position. Thornton hit an infield single that scored Matautia and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches, the second of which scored Bridge. A third wild pitch allowed Thornton to cruise home herself for the team's final run.
NSU nearly ended the game early, loading the bases in the sixth and putting the Eight-Run Rule into play with the ninth run on second. Although the Sharks left the bases loaded, Thornton drew three straight groundballs to third base to seal the win.
The Sharks will continue their road trip on Thursday, Feb. 12, at No. 12 Alabama-Huntsville with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
