Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University softball captured its first win of the 2016 season, and first win under newly named head coach Julie LeMaire, on Friday night when they defeated Colorado Christian University 14-7.
 
LeMaire's small group of 13 was able to combine for 14 runs and 18 hits with eight players getting two or more hits on the night. Junior pitcher Dajia Jones (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the group going 4-for-4 with a homerun and pitching a complete game giving up 12 hits and three walks.
 
"I am beyond excited that I was able to be a part of this team's first win of the season," said LeMaire. "With such a small group, I was extremely proud at the way these ladies came together to get the win. This truly shows that our players have bought into our system and realize that it will take everyone working together to be successful."
 
The Sharks' bats were on fire from the start. Jones began the streak with a three-run homer in the top of the first. Katey Blummer (Jr., Naples, Fla.) followed that up with double through the left side to score two more and end the half inning up 5-0.
 
NSU would earn another run in the top of the third off a single by Ashley Roe (Jr., Flower Mound, Texas) to bring in Blummer. Things would heat up again in the top of the fourth beginning with a Megan Granitto (Fr., Wellington, Fla.) single and advance to second on an error by the Cougars' shortstop. Jones followed with a single and Granitto was driven home by Rachel Minier (Jr., Orlando, Fla.) who would score the team's eighth run off a pop fly by Blummer.
 
CCU came storming back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs off of five hits. The Sharks answered in the top of the sixth, tacking on two more runs coming off a single from Haley Gonzales (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) and a well-laid bunt by Sophia Devesa (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to bring the score to 10-5.
 
The Cougars would put up two more runs, but the Sharks widened the gap with a four-run seventh inning. Again Granitto began the streak with a single up the middle. Jones doubled down the left field line and Minier doubled to right center to score both Granitto and Jones. Devesa picked up two more RBIs off a double to right center to bring in Gonzales, who had been hit by a pitch, and Blummer who reached on a fielder's choice.

"We took a good offensive approach, and I really liked how we ran the bases," continued LeMaire. "The next step is to get a little more comfortable defensively."
 
This game is the first of five as the Sharks take part in the Eckerd College Spring Invitational. The team will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 6 as they take on Ursuline at 11 a.m. and Eckerd at 4 p.m. in Clearwater, Florida. Live stat links for both games can be found on our schedule page HERE.