FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Following a doubleheader sweep of their own, and a doubleheader split between both Rollins and Tampa, the Nova Southeastern softball team clinched a share of the Sunshine State Conference regular season title for the first time in program history on Friday. The Sharks shut out Florida Southern by a score of 4-0 in the afternoon's first ball game before coming from behind to secure a 3-2 walk-off win to conclude the regular season with a record of 37-12 and 23-7 in league play.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: Nova Southeastern 4 (W: E. Hess, 13-5), Florida Southern 0 (L: C. Buckner, 2-2)
Records: Nova Southeastern (36-12, 22-7 SSC), Florida Southern (18-28, 7-22 SSC)
Location: AD Griffin Sports Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  
Get Social: @NSU_Softball on Instagram and Twitter
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
BOT 1^st | Like she had in Thursday's series opener, Alexis Smith sparked the NSU offense by leading off the ball game with a bunt single before moving into scoring position with her 37^th stolen base of the season. Two batters later, Ryleigh Langwell laced an RBI-single up the middle as the Sharks grabbed an early 1-0 advantage.

TOP 2^nd | Florida Southern didn't muster many scoring chances against NSU starting pitcher Emily Hess, yet the Moccasins loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second. Hess would battle back, though, eventually painting the corner for strike No. 3 and out No. 3 to end the threat with the Sharks still in front 1-0

BOT 3^rd | Langwell struck again in the third, this time driving in Sydney Lageyre on a double that reached the wall in left center. Langwell would be thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple. However, Tia Williams kept the offense rolling with an infield single and a stolen base before a Madison Fine single into center extended the margin to 3-0.

BOT 6^th | NSU tacked on another run in the sixth thanks to a Florida Southern fielding error.

TOP 7^th | The four-run cushion was more than enough for Hess, who retired the side in order in the seventh to finish off her complete-game, three-hit shutout.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Eight of the nine NSU players in the lineup registered at least one hit, including Lageyre, Langwell and Smith, who each tallied two apiece.
• Lageyre collected two of NSU's four total stolen bases in the victory.
• Hess needed just 82 pitches in her fifth shutout of the season.
   

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: Nova Southeastern 3 (W: A. Connor, 17-3), Florida Southern 2 (L: L. Edgington, 5-6)
Records: Nova Southeastern (37-12, 23-7 SSC), Florida Southern (18-29, 7-23 SSC)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TOP 1^st | After recording the first out of the inning, four straight Florida Southern batters reached base safely against the Sharks, as the Mocs jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

TOP 3^rd | Entering as a reliever on Friday, NSU's Ashley Connor did a nice job minimizing the damage, yet surrendered a two-out single in the third that allowed the Mocs to double their advantage to 2-0.

BOT 5^th | Having stranded runners in each of the first four innings, the Sharks finally got on the board in the fifth when Lageyre followed up a Williams triple with an infield single to second base.

BOT 7^th | The Sharks left a combined three more runners on base in the fifth and the sixth, yet produced one final scoring chance in the seventh after a Smith walk and a Lageyre single up the middle. A Langwell sacrifice bunt would move both runners into scoring position with one out. A flyout to shallow right, though, would put two outs on the board, bringing Fine to the plate. Down to her final strike, the NSU catcher worked the count back even at 2-2 before hitting a sharp grounder at the FSC shortstop. Initially unable to field the ball cleanly, the shortstop compounded the miscue with an errant throw, allowing both Smith and Lageyre to come around to score to hand the Sharks the walk-off victory.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Lageyre finished 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored.
• Smith reached base three times, scoring twice.
• Connor pitched 6.2 innings in relief, surrendering five hits and one earned run while striking out two and walking none.

UP NEXT
The Sharks will await their postseason fate when the NCAA Tournament field is announced Monday morning at 10 a.m. To watch the selection show, visit NCAA.com. To stay up-to-date with the Sharks, follow them on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_Softball.