FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern University softball team (8-13) will take a break from Sunshine State Conference play to host the St. Thomas Bobcats (2-6) Thursday, with a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
 
The Sharks will use this doubleheader to recapture the momentum they had coming out of their northern road trip. NSU started 8-3 this season, with high profile wins over nationally-ranked teams like Alabama-Huntsville, North Georgia and Wingate. However, that road trip was cut short due to a winter storm, and the Sharks have struggled since.
 
Much of those struggles have been due to NSU's schedule, which has arguably been the toughest in the nation. NSU had a run of nine straight games against nationally ranked teams, a streak that earned NSU three victories and proved they can compete with the best. The recent skid has come at the hands of now-ranked No. 17 Georgia College, SSC preseason favorites Rollins and the hottest team in the South Region, the Eckerd Tritons, who swept the Sharks and have now won 20 straight games.
 
The softball season is a marathon, and there are still 26 games to be played. The remaining schedule includes upcoming home series against Lynn and Saint Leo. Those two series will be crucial, as a nine-game road trip follows and only four home games remain after that.
 
In order to get back on track, the Sharks will aim for a strong performance against a Bobcat team that has had its own adversity this year. St. Thomas is 2-6, including two 8-0 losses to Barry. St. Thomas recently competed in the Clermont Tournament, ending the trip with a 5-0 win over Madonna.
 
The Bobcats are led by slapper Christina Horton, who is batting a cool .500 on the season, all coming on singles. She has a team-best seven runs scored. The Bobcats may look to play small ball against the Sharks based off their season statistics. St. Thomas has not recorded a home run this year and has only one triple and five doubles in 195 at bats.
 
Historically, the Sharks have had St. Thomas' number, with more wins against them than any other opponent in history. NSU is a whopping 75-7 over the course of one of the program's oldest series, dating back to NSU's Florida Sun Conference era.
 
Live stats and live video will be available for both games Friday. Check back with NSUSharks.com for the postgame recap.