FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern Softball team split a pair of games with Valdosta State on Saturday afternoon, picking up their second win of the season. The Sharks dominated in game one, rattling in four runs in the fifth inning, leading the Sharks to a 6-1 victory. In game two, the Sharks fell 11-6 in a back-and-forth match against the Blazers.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME ONE)
Score: Nova Southeastern 6 (W: K. Ellard, 1-1), Valdosta State 1 (L: S. Richards, 1-1)
Records: Nova Southeastern (2-1), Valdosta State (2-1)
Location: AD Griffin Sports Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: @NSUSharks and @NSU_Softball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
HOW IT HAPPENED:
BOT 3rd | Alexis Smith got it started for the Sharks, recording a double to left field. Shortly after, Ryleigh Langwell singled to center field and stole second after a Blazer miscue. With a runner on 2nd and 3rd , Tia Williams stepped up to the plate and singled to center field, allowing Smith to score the first run of the game for the Sharks. At the next at bat, Elise Eason batted in Langwell with a single of her own, giving NSU a 2-0 lead.
TOP 4th | Katelyn Ellard struck out two batters.
TOP 5th | The Blazers got on the board, hitting a home run to left field. Ellard then retired the next three batters.
BOT 5th | Smith got on base again with a bunt, she then showcased her speed and stole for second. In the next at-bat, Williams singled to left field, bringing Smith across home plate in the process. Alyssa Drogemuller then singled up the middle and Williams scored the run, bringing the Sharks lead to 4-1. NSU wasn't done yet, scoring two more runs in the inning, thanks to a double by Madison Fine and a single up the middle by Kerystn Shaw.
Top 7th | Ellard allowed only one hit in the inning and closed out the match for the Sharks, giving NSU the 6-1 victory.
INSIDE THE STATS:
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Alexis Smith recorded three hits.
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Smith, Langwell, Williams, Fine, and Shaw all had two or more hits.
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Katelyn Ellard recorded six strike outs.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME TWO)
Score: Nova Southeastern 6 (W: A. Drogemuller, 0-1), Valdosta State 11 (L: M. DeAngelis, 1-0)
Records: Nova Southeastern (2-2), Valdosta State (3-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
BOT 1st | Alexis Smith was hit by pitch during her first at bat, shortly after she stole second base for her second steal of the day. Langwell earned an RBI single in the next at bat, bringing Smith across home plate. After Langwell advanced to third following a SAC bunt by Williams, Elise Eason batted in Langwell with a single. With the bases loaded a few at bats later, Emily Thomas singled to left field, bringing in two runners and increasing the Shark lead to 4-0.
TOP 2nd | Valdosta State answered the Sharks hitting barrage. With a runner on first base, the Blazers homered to left field to cut their deficit to two.
TOP 5th | The Blazers were able to load the bases and rattle in five runs in the inning, to give themselves a 7-4 lead.
BOT 5th | Grace Rende advanced to first after being hit by the pitch. Then an Emily Thomas single to left center allowed Rende to reach third. Shortly after, Langwell hit a line drive past the shortstop and two Sharks came across home plate, bringing the Shark deficit to one.
TOP 6th | The Blazers loaded the bases again and scored four runs in the inning to increase their lead to 11-6.
BOT 7th | Despite a valiant effort from the Sharks they were unable to complete the comeback. The Nova Southeastern Sharks dropped the second game of the double-header against Valdosta State 11-6.
INSIDE THE STATS:
UPCOMING
NSU will take the field again tomorrow, Sunday, February 5th, and take on West Florida at 12 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.
