FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Using late inning rallies in both games of the Sunshine State Conference doubleheader against Saint Leo, the Nova Southeastern Sharks softball team responded to the series opening defeat with back-to-back wins on Saturday to win the SSC series. The Sharks took game two 8-7 and the series finale 5-4 with a walk-off in extra innings.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP 

RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 25-9, 11-4 SSC; Saint Leo 19-13. 8-10 

SCORES: Nova Southeastern 8, Saint Leo 7 (Game One); Nova Southeastern 5, Saint Leo 4 (Game Two) 

LOCATION: AD Griffin Sports | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 

GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_Softball 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE) 

Saint Leo plated two runs in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of a Sharks error. NSU quickly responded with a run in the bottom half of the frame, as Tia Williams doubled to left-center to drive in Alexis Smith. Samantha Burke tied the game in the next inning, adding an RBI double of her own.  

The Lions plated five in the top of the third inning, taking a 7-2 advantage over NSU. Nova Southeastern added a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, cutting the deficit to 7-4. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Williams showcased her speed and drove in two runs on an infield single, bringing the Sharks within one run. Allie Janowiak lined a single to right field, scoring Williams, and tying the game 7-7. Nova Southeastern took an 8-7 lead after Emerson Morris singled to right field, driving in Janowiak to cap off the inning.  

Ashley Connor closed out the game, as the Sharks took the victory in game two of the series, 8-7.  

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO) 

NSU maintained its momentum into the first inning of the series finale, scoring the game's first run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Janowiak. Sidney Lageyre added a second run for Nova Southeastern in the bottom of the second, driving in Swantic with an RBI single. Saint Leo got to the Sharks starter, Katelyn Ellard, in the top of the third as the Lions loaded the bases. Head Coach Julie LeMaire called upon Connor out of the bullpen once again. The freshman got out of the inning, only allowing one run, preserving the NSU lead.  

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Langwell singled up the middle and Smith scored from second after the batted ball deflected off the glove of the Lions' shortstop, tying the game. Kerstyn Shaw led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single and moved to second after Lageyre added a single of her own. LeMaire re-entered Alexi Watkins as a pinch-runner at second base, and Langwell added her second clutch RBI in the game, as the Sharks walked off in extra innings to earn the series victory.  

UPCOMING 

The Sharks travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., to take on the Eckerd Tritons in Sunshine State Conference action beginning on Friday, April 8.