AMERICUS, Ga. - The Nova Southeastern Sharks traveled to Georgia over the weekend and scored two victories on Valentine's Day. The Sharks mounted a huge comeback in a 7-5 victory over Mars Hill University in their first game, before overwhelming host Georgia Southwestern State 11-1 in their second contest. Gianna Russo, Destiny Lewis, Ana Richiez and Christina D'Agostino each stepped up and hit clutch home runs for the Sharks in Saturday's two-game slate. 

(GAME 1)

Score: Nova Southeastern 7 | Mars Hill 5 
Records: Nova Southeastern (7-6, 0-0 SSC) | Mars Hill (6-3, 0-0 SAC)                 
Location: Americus, Ga. | Lady Canes Field          
Get Social: @NSUSharks and @NSUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

(GAME 1)

• The Lions earned the first score of the game on a single to left field in the second inning. Not to be outdone, the Sharks tied the score in the third inning, when Destiny Lewis' sacrificial fly brought Christina D'Agostino home.
• The Lions broke the stalemate in the fifth inning, as they scored one run on a stolen base and batted in another run on a single. Camryn Sterling recorded an RBI double, giving Mars Hill a commanding 5-1 lead.
• The Sharks got back on track in the sixth inning, as Ana Richiez scored on Savanna Isaacson's sacrificial fly, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
• The Sharks took over in the seventh, as Gianna Russo smashed a two-run shot to center field, bringing NSU within one run. Emily Garcia then finished it off, as the senior hit a three-run walkoff home run to right center field, completing the comeback and securing the 7-5 victory for NSU.

(GAME 2)

Score: Nova Southeastern 11 | Georgia Southwestern State 1
Records: Nova Southeastern (8-6, 0-0 SSC) | Georgia Southwestern State (6-2, 0-0 PBC)                 
Location: Americus, Ga. | Lady Canes Field          
Get Social: @NSUSharks and @NSUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

(GAME 2) 

• Destiny Lewis got the Sharks off to a great start, as the senior smashed a shot over the left field wall to give NSU an early 1-0 lead.
• Teammate Ana Richiez got in on the action, as she recorded an RBI single to center field which brought Brianna Matthews home. In the third inning, Richiez homered to left field, giving the Sharks a 3-0 lead and all the momentum.
• The Sharks continued adding to their total in the fifth, as Richiez scored on Abbey Moore's RBI single. Emily Garcia stole home and Moore scored moments later on a wild pitch, bringing NSU's lead to 6-0. 
• Lewis hit her second home run of the game to center field at the top of the sixth inning. The Hurricanes finally stopped the bleeding with their only run at the bottom of the sixth, but still trailed the Sharks 7-1.
• At the top of the seventh, Christina D'Agostino stepped to the plate and hit a grand slam, sending the Sharks into a frenzy and giving them an 11-1 lead. That was the final run of the game, and the Sharks finished 2-0 on the day. 

After Saturday's two wins, the Sharks move to 8-6 on the season and will face off against Georgia College in double-header action today at 10:00 AM and 12 noon. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Softball, be sure to follow on Twitter/X and Instagram at NSUSoftball.