WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern Sharks softball team broke out the brooms in a conference series for the first time this season taking advantage of hot bats and stellar individual performances.
Destiny Lewis inches closer to the history books hitting her 11
th home run of the season, just two away from tying the single season program record.
Christina D'Agostino put in a bid for Player of the Week honors as the freshman launched three home runs, including two grand slams, for a five hit, 12 RBI weekend in Winter Park.
Game 1
Score: Nova Southeastern 8 (W: G. Wallace [10-7]) | Rollins 2 (L: R. Twiggs [8-5])
Records: Nova Southeastern (17-15, 3-7 SSC) | Rollins (17-8, 5-5 SSC)
Location: Winter Park, Fla. | MLK Park
Game 1
- The Sharks got the bats going early in the second inning with Destiny Lewis hitting a solo shot for her 11th of the season before Taylor Rogers hit one of her own later in the inning to give NSU the 2-0 advantage.
- Rollins used small ball to tie the game using multiple bunts, scoring a RBI single in the second and a RBI double into the left-center gap in the fourth.
- The tie would not last long as the first Shark batter in the fifth, Abbey Moore, launched a home run to left field to re-clinch the lead.
- The Sharks never looked back tacking on a run in the sixth and four in the seventh on a Christina D'Agostino grand slam.
- Gracelyn Wallace dealt a complete game only allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five.
Game 2
Score: Nova Southeastern 15 (W: A. Richiez [3-4]) | Rollins 0 (L: C. Leon-Blanco [6-3])
Records: Nova Southeastern (18-15, 4-7 SSC) | Rollins (17-9, 5-6 SSC)
Location: Winter Park, Fla. | MLK Park
Game 2
- The Sharks bats got hot and stayed hot to open Saturday's doubleheader getting the bases loaded in the second inning for starting pitcher Ana Richiez who helped her own cause with the Sharks' second grand slam of the series to cap off a six-run inning.
- The Sharks extended the lead to 9-0 with a third inning three-run home run from Christina D'Agostino, her second of the series.
- NSU added another six-run crooked number in the fourth with three bases loaded free passes and a Destiny Lewis bases clearing 3 RBI double to extend the lead to 15.
- Ana Richiez pitched all five innings not allowing a run to score while only allowing four base hits while striking out two.
Game 3
Score: Nova Southeastern 12 (W: G. Wallace [11-8]) | Rollins 4 (L: C. Leon-Blanco [6-4])
Records: Nova Southeastern (19-15, 5-7 SSC) | Rollins (17-10, 5-7 SSC)
Location: Winter Park, Fla. | MLK Park
Game 3
- The Tars collected three RBI groundouts and used a Shark error to take their first lead of the series and took a 4-0 lead into the fifth.
- NSU broke open the flood gates in the fifth scoring nine runs, the most in a single inning for the Sharks this season.
- The Sharks, once again, got the bases loaded against Rollins using two hit-by-pitches and a fielding error to bring the game within one, 4-3.
- After a Tars pitching change the conveyor belt didn't stop with another bases loaded walk and hit-by-pitch to tie and take the lead, respectively.
- NSU capped off the parade with a Christina D'Agostino grand slam, her second grand slam of the weekend and third home run to take a 9-4 lead over the host Tars.
- The Sharks pushed the game into run rule territory in the sixth scoring on a failed pickoff attempt and a 2 RBI single from Brianna Matthews.
- Gracelyn Wallace got the win in relief throwing 2.2 innings allowing no runs on three hits, striking out five. Starter Ana Richiez tossed three innings striking out three.
The Sharks return home on March 27 and 28 for a three game conference series with Palm Beach Atlantic. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Softball, be sure to follow on Twitter/X and Instagram @NSUSoftball.
