FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University softball will host Columbus State in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, March 16 followed by a three-game conference series at Eckerd beginning Friday, March 18.
 
The Sharks (8-18, 1-8 SSC) begin the week with a doubleheader against Columbus State (15-10) on Wednesday, March 16 with the first game slated for 5 p.m. The team will then head up to St. Petersburg, Florida for a three-game series against Sunshine State Conference (SSC) opponent Eckerd (13-11-1, 2-4 SSC) with one game on Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m. and two on Saturday, March 19 beginning at 1 p.m.
 
NSU went 3-3 at the NTC Spring Games last weekend defeating Upper Iowa, Bentley and splitting with St. Thomas Aquinas College while also falling to Ferris State and Wayne State.
 
Pitcher Dajia Jones was named SSC Player of the Week after leading the offensive attack going 9-for-19 with three home runs. Jones (3-7) also threw her second two-hitter of the season to get the 6-1 win over St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday afternoon. Megan Granitto (Fr., Wellington, Fla.) also earned two wins in the circle for the Sharks racking up 10 strikeouts and only allowing three earned runs over three games.
 
The team continued to be consistent at the plate combining for 40 hits through six games. Freshman Sophia Devesa (Fr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) continued to produce at the plate and bring in runs as she went 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored in the 7-2 win over Upper Iowa to open tournament play. Devesa picked up another RBI against Ferris State.
 
Returners Katey Blummer (Jr., Naples, Fla.) and Dakota Villella (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) also performed well at the plate. Villella went 2-for-4 with a run in the Wayne State game, 2-for-3 in the first St. Thomas Aquinas matchup and had hits against Bentley and Upper Iowa. Blummer drove in the Sharks' two runs versus Wayne State, went 1-for-4 with a run and a RBI the second time around against St. Thomas Aquinas and singled against Bentley and in the first game versus St. Thomas Aquinas.
 
See below for information about the Sharks' upcoming opponents and links to the live stats and live video stream for each game when available. Stay tuned to NSUSharks.com for the latest updates throughout the weekend.
 
Wednesday, March 16, 5 p.m.: Live Stats | Live Video
Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m.: Live Stats | Live Video
Friday, March 18, 7 p.m.: Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday, March 19, 1 p.m.: Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday, March 19, 3 p.m.: Live Stats | Live Video
 
Columbus State
The Lady Cougars (15-10) are coming off a Peach Belt Conference series with two wins over Georgia Southwestern and splitting a doubleheader with UNC Pembroke. Freshman pitcher Peyton Sorrells (7-3) picked up two wins and a no-decision as she currently leads CSU with seven wins on the season despite a 5.13 ERA. The team has four batters hitting over .300 with sophomore Kia Smith leading the way with a .394 average at the plate. The combined team batting average is .303 while they hold opponents to an average of .284. CSU will face Palm Beach Atlantic in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 15 before making the quick trip down to Ft. Lauderdale to play the Sharks.
 
Eckerd
Eckerd (13-11-1. 2-4 SSC) handed Rollins their first conference lost with a 2-0 victory last Saturday. The team also dealt No. 11 Saint Leo its first loss of the season earlier this month. The pitching effort is steered by Nikole Van Gennep (7-7) who has a 1.43 ERA and has earned two shutouts so far this season. Gennep is also the team's offensive leader as she is batting .352 with 11 RBI. Four players have double digit runs batted in as the team combines for .264 at the plate. The pitching squad has an ERA of 2.18 with opponents averaging 3.23 against the Tritons. The team will face Bentley University and Southern Connecticut State at the NTC Spring Games this week prior to hosting NSU at the Turley Athletic Complex in St. Petersburg.