MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team fell in its season opener, 6-3, to the No. 3 Armstrong State Pirates on Friday evening. Friday night's loss serves as the Sharks' first game of the First Pitch Classic hosted by fellow Sunshine State Conference member Florida Tech.
 
Down 1-0 in the top of the second, Mary Acosta's sac fly to left field scored Megan Granitto, tallying NSU's (0-1) first run of the season to knot the score 1-1. In the bottom half of the frame, Armstrong State (2-0) used a Macy Coleman single to score Katie Collins to take back the advantage, 2-1.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Sharks tied things up once more as rookie Sydney Lageyre sent a triple up the middle to score Mary Acosta, who reached on base knock to left. The next batter, Dakota Villella, laid down a bunt to plate Lageyre and NSU grabbed its first, and only, lead of the game, 3-2.
 
The Pirates responded quickly, as Trzaska's two-run homer to left gave them a one-run edge, 4-3. ASU wasn't done scoring, however, as they tacked on a couple insurance runs in the seventh to bring the final score to 6-3.
 
In their collegiate debuts, Lageyre went 2-for-4 while Acosta finished 1-for-2. Both rookies had an RBI and a run scored. Lexie Storrer was 2-for-3 and Granitto went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Dana Edmundson drew two walks.
 
Storrer (0-1) took the loss, giving up eight hits and six runs, five earned, in 6.0 innings, walking three while striking out four.
 
Sierra Peebles (1-0) went the distance for the Pirates, notching her first win of the season, giving up eight hits and three runs in seven innings, walking three while striking out two.
 
The Sharks will continue play in the First Pitch Classic tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. as it takes on the host Florida Tech Panthers in a non-conference affair. Later in the day at 2:00 p.m., the Sharks will play again against Angelo State. Both live video and stats will be available for the game against FIT, and live stats will be going for the Angelo State game.