Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University softball broke a six-game losing streak on Wednesday night by sweeping a two-game series with Kentucky State University.
 
The Sharks (3-6) combined for 18 hits in the 6-1 and 10-3 wins over the Thorobrettes (0-7). Freshman first baseman Megan Granitto (Wellington, Fla.) led the charge, going 1-for-2 with two RBI in the first game and 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the second game.
 
"Overall, I felt that we made some really good adjustments offensively to be more productive at the plate," said head coach Julie LeMaire. "We were much more selective when the pitcher was trying to find the strike zone, and we swung the bat better than we have in the last four games out. I think that Megan (Granitto) and Haley (Gonzales) both had a really good day at the plate and it was great to see them being productive."
 
Both Dajia Jones (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) and Erica Winter (Fr., Blaine, Minn.) would pick up a win to improve their season records. Jones (2-3) got off to a rocky start in the first game, giving up seven walks, but she rebounded and finished with four strikeouts and only relinquishing one hit. Winter (1-3) ended the night with six strikeouts, six walks and allowing eight hits but only one earned run. Cheyenne Carpenter and Emily Jenkins would pick up the losses for the Thorobrettes.
 
"Once we get a handle on minimizing walks and getting tighter defensively behind our pitchers, I think we will be able to move forward and be a more well-rounded team," continued LeMaire.
 
Game 1
NSU took an early lead, putting up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The runs came off a Jones bunt single and a Granitto double to left center. The Sharks would move increase their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Jones walks and advances to second on a wild pitch. Haley Gonzales (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) and Granitto saw back-to-back walks to load the bases. Jones and Gonzales would score off a Jessie Brown single to right field (So., Hollywood, Fla.)
 
Kentucky State would score one in the top of the fifth off of a Thorobrette hit and a Shark error. NSU would score its final run bottom of the sixth. Ashley Roe (Jr., Flower Mound, Texas) hit a triple to the fence in left center and was driven in by a sacrifice fly from Rachel Minier (Jr., Orlando, Fla.).
 
Game 2
The dominant hitting continued into the second game of the night as seven of the nine starters got a hit. The Sharks so their first four runs come in the bottom of the first. Katey Blummer (Jr., Naples, Fla.) started off the bats with a one-out single. Jones reached on a fielder's choice, which moved Blummer to second base. Both runners scored after a double to left center by Gonzales, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI on the night). Granitto followed that up with another double to score Gonzales and bring NSU up 4-0.
 
Not wasting any time, the Sharks earned another four runs in the bottom of the second. This time, Dakota Villella (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) started things off with a single to shortstop and then stole second. She moved to third off a single by Blummer (2-for-4) and went on to score on the throw down to second to try and catch Blummer stealing. Gonzales would come up with another single to move Blummer to third and she would go on to take second. With her third extra base hit of the night, Granitto triples to left center to bring in Blummer and Gonzales. She would go on to score the final run of the inning off a Kentucky State error.
 
The Thorobrettes would try to get things going in the top of the third, scoring two runs off of one hit and two Shark errors. Gonzales picked up another RBI in the bottom of the fourth ith a double to take the Sharks up 9-2. Kentucky State scored again in the top of the fifth, but the Sharks were relentless, putting up their 10^th and final run of the night in bottom of the sixth inning.
 
NSU will begin conference play this weekend as they face Barry University in a three-game series beginning on Friday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at A.D. Griffin Sports Complex. Live stat and live video links can be found HERE.