FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern softball team had plenty to celebrate about on Saturday afternoon at the AD Griffin Sports Complex as the team earned a series sweep over Lynn all while celebrating the careers of its two seniors,
Ashley Roe and
Dakota Villella.
The Sharks (27-24, 15-9 SSC) broke out of the gates hot in the bottom of the first of the first game, tallying their three runs they would later use in a 3-1 win. The second game was also low scoring, seeing NSU end up on top, 2-1.
With the pair of wins, the Sharks have earned a third-place ranking in the Sunshine State Conference and will await to hear their post-season fate during the NCAA Div. II Softball Selection show on May 8.
GAME ONE
As mentioned earlier, all three of NSU's runs came in the home half of the first inning.
Dana Edmundson led off strong with a triple to center field before the next batter, Villella, brought her home on a sacrifice fly to right field. Two batters later,
Alex Suzuki reached after getting hit by a pitch before another triple, this time by Roe, allowed her to score for a 2-0 edge. The final run for the Sharks was tallied as
Erica Winter singled through the left side to bring Roe across for the 3-0 lead.
After two innings of scoreless play, Lynn (26-22, 12-12 SSC) recorded their lone run of the game in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Mackenzie Wyatt.
Winter (7-10) broke her four-game losing streak and finished the regular season strong with a win. In her 6.2 innings, she allowed one run on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Lexie Storrer entered the circle for 0.1 inning as her lone batter faced lined out to centerfield.
Katelyn Key was saddled with the loss after her 6.0 innings of work, giving up three runs on five hits.
GAME TWO
Similar to the first game, the Sharks were the first to reach the board in the nightcap, as well. With one out and Villella on first, the senior Shark stole both second and third, making it easy for NSU to score. As Storrer reached on a throwing error by Lynn, Villella was able to make it home and the Sharks took a 1-0 lead.
NSU scored its final run of the series in the next inning, good enough for a 2-0 advantage. Winter led off with a single up the middle and back-to-back groundouts by
Megan Maloney and
Samantha Gonzales advanced her all the way to third base. The next batter,
Mary Acosta, sent a sent to left field and Winter was able to score.
The Fighting Knights responded in the next half inning, tallying their lone run of the game as Shayle Arenson brought Sara Vazquez home on a sacrifice fly.
Storrer (20-10) completed the season with her eighth-consecutive home win, allowing one run on just four hits in 7.0 innings. Her 20 wins are the most collected by a Shark since 2012.
Lynn's Kayla Sheffield took the loss after going the distance, and giving up two runs on five hits.
On the day, Acosta finished 2-for-4 with an RBI while Winter was 2-for-5 with one run scored and an RBI of her own. Edmundson went 2-for-6 and scored once.
Keep an eye on NSUSharks.com for postseason information as well as All-SSC Team picks.
