FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern University softball team will make the short trip up to West Palm Beach, Florida to take part in Palm Beach Atlantic's Sailfish Showdown on Feb. 13-14.
 
The Sharks (1-3) will face Armstrong State and Washburn on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, and then take on Georgia Southwestern at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.
 
NSU opened the season last week at the Eckerd College Spring Invitational. The team started the tournament with a 14-7 win over Colorado Christian. Starting pitcher Dajia Jones (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) went 4-for-4 with a three-run home run in her first at bat. Jones (1-1), ranked seventh in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) in batting average (.533), would go 10-for-15 on the weekend. Overall the Sharks' bats were strong as the team is third in the SSC in batting average with a .325.
 
The Sharks dropped the next three to Ursuline (2-2) and conference opponents Lynn (3-4) and Tampa (3-2). Jones picked up the 6-3 loss to Lynn, while freshman right-hander Erica Winter (Blaine, Minn.) would get the other two despite combining for six strikeouts over both games.
 
"After coming of our first week, we had a good week of practice preparing defensively and working with our pitchers," said head coach Julie LeMaire. "I feel good about the way we came out offensively in our first weekend. Therefore if we get a handle on the defense we will be a better-rounded team and have a better chance of being successful."
 
Below is information on the Sharks' next three opponents. Games will be played at the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus in West Palm Beach, Florida. On Saturday, NSU will play Armstrong on Tropicana Field and Washburn on Simpson Field. Sunday's game against Georgia Southwestern will be played on Tropicana Field. For ticket and additional tournament information, please click HERE.
 
Armstrong State
The Pirates came out of their first two weekends with a 4-3 record, defeating No. 18 Alabama-Huntsville, Delta State and Lincoln Memorial. Junior pitcher Tori Bates (1-2) hurled a four-hit shutout in the 1-0 win over Alabama-Huntsville and has a 2.59 ERA on the year. On the offensive side, the Pirates are led by junior first baseman Hannah Reppert who is hitting .538 with four home runs. Armstrong finished 2015 at 32-16, making its 13th appearance in the NCAA Championships in the last 15 seasons and advancing to the sub-regional final for a third straight year.
 
Washburn
Washburn will open their 47^th season at the Sailfish Showdown. The Ichabods enter 2016 with a wealth of experience as they return five all-MIAA players from last season after reaching the conference postseason tournament for the first time since 2012. Overall the team will return nine letterwinners with six starters returning and three starting pitchers from 2015's 27-24 squad.
 
Georgia Southwestern
The 5-3 Canes have been dominant offensively in their first eight games. The team is on a four-game win streak, winning the previous three games over Albany State and Fort Valley State courtesy of the mercy rule. The team has a combined batting average of .386 and the Canes' No. 1 pitcher senior Haley Goodson has posted a 2.37 ERA for the season. Georgia Southwestern is currently No. 4 in the Peach Belt Conference, one spot above Armstrong State.