FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After dropping the first game of the series to the Tampa Spartans on Friday evening, the Nova Southeastern softball team delivered the doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon to take the overall series, 2-1. The Sharks topped UT, 8-4, in the first game, before posting a shutout 1-0 win in the series finale.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME ONE):
FINAL SCORE:  Nova Southeastern Sharks 8 (W: D. Sprengers, 6-2), Tampa Spartans 4 (L: S. Kaye, 2-4)
RECORDS: NSU (14-15, 3-7 SSC), UT (17-10, 8-5 SSC)
LOCATION: AD Griffin Sports Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.    
ALL TIME SERIES: Spartans lead Sharks 29-23
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
BOTTOM 3RD: After two scoreless innings, the Sharks took a 1-0 lead on an RBI-single by Kailynn Blackwood, who scored Sydney Lageyre. A batter later, Dana Edmundson reached on a fielder's choice as the throw to home wasn't fast enough to catch Lageyre, giving NSU a 2-0 edge.
 
TOP 4TH: The Spartans responded in the next inning, knotting the game 2-2 with an RBI-single down the right field line by Shelby Press.
 
BOTTOM 4TH: Leading the inning off with a double to deep left field, Alex Suzuki was moved to third on a groundout by Daniela Bautista before an RBI-single by Mayers brought her home for a 3-2 NSU lead.
 
BOTTOM 5TH: The Sharks offense exploded for five runs in the fifth, grabbing an 8-2 advantage. A single through the right side by Dominique Sprengers scored Maloney the next batter, Lexie Storrer, brought Edmundson home with an RBI-single of her own. Suzuki singled through the right side and a throwing error by UT's second baseman allowed her to make it all the way to third, scoring Sprengers and Storrer in the meantime for a 7-2 NSU lead. With no outs on the board, a sacrifice fly by Bautista allowed Suzuki to cross the plate to represent NSU's final tally of the game and bring the score to 8-2.
 
TOP 6TH: The Spartans attempted the rally, but ultimately came up short, scoring just two runs on a double to left by Emalee Jansen.
 
INSIDE THE STATS:

• Mayers was a solid 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored once while Suzuki finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Maloney and Edmundson were also 2-for-4, both scoring once as Edmundson tallied one RBI.
• The Sharks outhit the Spartans 13-8.
• Sprengers improved her record to 7-2 on the season after tossing the full 7.0 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Both teams were forced to leave seven runners on base.
• Suzuki's two RBI were her first of the season, this being just the second game she's seen action in.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME TWO):
FINAL SCORE:  Nova Southeastern Sharks 1 (W: L. Storrer, 8-12), Tampa Spartans 0 (L: M. Dooley 15-8)
RECORDS: NSU (15-15, 4-7 SSC), UT (17-11, 8-6 SSC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
BOTTOM 6TH: In a 15-pitch at-bat, Suzuki won the battle at the plate, sending an RBI-single to left field to score Edmundson for the lone run of the game and eventual winning tally.
 
INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Sharks were limited to five hits, while the Spartans only tallied six.
• Blackwood, Maloney, Edmundson, Storrer and Suzuki were responsible for NSU's hits.
• Storrer earned the shutout-win after pitching 7.0 innings, delivering two strikeouts.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• This is NSU's first series win over Tampa since 2015. 

UP NEXT: 

The Sharks will take a break from SSC action and will travel to St. Augustine, Fla. to take on Flagler in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar. 20.  
 
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