FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern softball team continued its torrid stretch in the month of March, collecting 8-0 and 6-3 wins at home on Saturday to earn a Sunshine State Conference series sweep of Florida Tech. The pair of victories give the Sharks back-to-back SSC series sweeps and runs their record to 14-1 since the calendar flipped from February.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME ONE)
Score: Nova Southeastern 8 (W: E. Hess, 6-4), Florida Tech 0 (L: A. Hendrian, 7-5) (5 Innings)
Records: Nova Southeastern (19-8, 5-3 SSC), Florida Tech (21-13, 6-8 SSC)
Location: AD Griffin Sports Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  
Get Social: @NSUSharks and @NSU_Softball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
BOT 4^th | NSU starting pitcher Emily Hess took a no-hitter into the fourth as the Sharks jumped out to a 2-0 advantage. The lead soon doubled, too, in the bottom of the inning after a Samantha Burke RBI-single and an RBI-triple to deep right field off the bat of Sydney Lageyre.

BOT 5^th | Hess sat the Panthers down in order for the third time within her five innings of work before the NSU offense exploded for four more runs to put the run-rule into effect. An Allie Janowiak infield hit, along with an Emerson Morris walk, sparked the Sharks' rally when Madison Fine then singled into left center to stretch the margin to 5-0. Haley Hendricks pushed another run across with single up the middle, leaving way for Burke, who plated two more to clinch the 8-0 victory.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Hess surrendered just one hit and one walk while striking out two in the 70-pitch complete game.
• NSU out-hit Florida Tech 9-1 in the effort.
• Fine, Hendricks and Burke provided a huge lift near the bottom of the NSU lineup, combining for six hits, six RBI and four runs scored.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME TWO)
Score: Nova Southeastern 6 (W: E. Hess, 7-4), Florida Tech 3 (L: K. Rivers, 4-3), (S: A. Connor, 2)
Records: Nova Southeastern (20-8, 6-3 SSC), Florida Tech (21-14, 6-9 SSC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:
TOP 4^th | Florida Tech broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth on a two-out single through the right side by Cheyenne Nelson.

BOT 5^th | A tough -luck double play on a line drive hit directly at the Florida Tech third baseman prevented a big inning for the Sharks. Still, NSU pulled back within a run thanks to a double down the right field line that scored Lageyre.

BOT 6^th | A pinch-hit walk by Kerstyn Shaw gave the Sharks a base runner to lead off the inning. It was a flurry of Panthers' errors, though, that aided NSU in a key, four-run sixth. With runners on second and third and two outs, a fielding error by the Florida Tech shortstop allowed the Sharks to knot the score at 3-3. A pair of errors on the same play by the Florida Tech second baseman then scored both Hayley Lynch and Alexis Smith before Ryleigh Langwell tacked on another run with an RBI-single back up the middle.

TOP 7^th | Ashley Connor pitched a perfect seventh inning to record her second save of the season.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Hess earned her second win of the afternoon after throwing three innings in relief.
• Williams finished 2-for-4 with two RBI at the plate.
• Lageyre and Smith notched two stolen bases apiece, while Williams added one of her own. The Sharks lead the SSC with 75 stolen bases as a team this season.

UP NEXT
NSU will return to action next Friday at 3 p.m. on the road at Lynn. For complete coverage, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_Softball.