ST. LEO, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (3-12, 0-6 SSC) dropped the final two games of their three-game conference series against No. 14 Saint Leo (12-0, 3-0 SSC) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Both losses were 8-0 with the first coming in five innings and the second in six. Freshman Erica Winter (Fr., Blaine, Minn.) was back in the circle for the Sharks in the first game, moving to 1-5 with the loss and giving up seven hits, six earned runs and earning one strikeout. Fellow freshman Megan Granitto (Wellington, Fla.) moves to 0-2 but saw great improvement in her second pitching appearance despite giving up six hits, five earned runs and five walks. Lions' Alana Tabel (3-0) and Samantha Tyler (4-0) would pick up the wins for Saint Leo.
 
Game 1
Leadoff batter Rachel Minier (Jr., Orlando, Fla.) began the top of the first inning with a single down the left field line but the Sharks could not capitalize. Saint Leo would answer with three runs in the bottom of the first off of three hits.
 
Haley Gonzales (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) would put up the team's only other hit of the game in the top of the second. The Lions would put up another run in the bottom of the second and their final four in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Game 2
The Sharks again began the game with a hit as Dakota Villella (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) singled to left field to open the top of the first inning. Saint Leo would get on the board in the bottom of the second off of a fielder's choice RBI by Danielle Bottley to go up 1-0.
 
The Lions wouldn't see another run until the bottom of the fourth. They would then go up 4-0 over the Sharks in the bottom of the fifth from a bunt single by Rachael Heath. The Sharks tried to answer in the top of the sixth as Villella was hit by a pitch and moved to second after a Katey Blummer (Jr., Naples, Fla.) single to right field, but both runners were left stranded.
 
To end the game, Saint Leo earned four runs off of two hits and two Shark errors in the bottom of the sixth to move to 8-0.
 
NSU will be back at the A.D. Griffin Sports Complex for a five-game home stand beginning with Sunshine State Conference opponent Tampa on Friday, March 4 at 6 p.m. Check out the full Sharks schedule HERE for game dates, times and links to live stats and video.