NSU Sharks News
Softball Sweeps Opening Day
Sharks down both Columbus State and UNC Pembroke at Barry/Nova Invitational
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2009) - The Nova Southeastern University softball team swept both of its games on Friday as the Sharks opened the 2009 campaign with a 8-1 victory over Columbus State and then posted a 9-1 win over UNC Pembroke in five innings in the Barry/Nova Invitational at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.Against Columbus State, the Sharks set the tone early on. NSU scored six of its eight runs during the opening inning while going through its entire batting order. With one out, Rachel Talenfeld (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) walked, stole second and then reached third on a wild pitch. As Jessica Rockwell (Sr., Middleburg, Fla.) hit into a fielder's choice, Talenfeld beat out the throw to the plate to put the Sharks up 1-0.
April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) had an infield single that put two runners on base. Lauren Lopez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) loaded up the bases with a fielder's choice as the Cougars committed a fielding error in an attempt to get Donachie out at second. Britney Lamb ripped a two-run single down the right field line, allowing both Rockwell and Donachie to score, while Lamb and Lopez advance to second and third. In the next at-bat, Jessica Hernandez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) singled to center field, driving in Lopez. On the following play, Dana Bergner (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) hit a grounder to Columbus State pitcher, Jennifer Isasi, but both Lamb and Hernandez were able to score on the play to give the Sharks a 6-0 lead.
Columbus State got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Christie Thompson opened the inning with a single to center field. With two outs, Katie Ellis doubled to left field, allowing Thompson to reach third. Sarah Moore then hit an RBI-single up the middle to score Thompson and make it a 6-1 game.
NSU closed out the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Hernandez and Bergner hit back-to-back singles. Patty Rivero's (Jr., Miami, Fla.) hit in the next at-bat allowed Hernandez to score from second and Bergner to advance to third. Then with two outs, Talenfeld hit an RBI-single up the middle, allowing Bergner to cross home plate.
Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) picked up the win after pitching the complete game. She gave up just five hits and one earned one, while fanning seven and facing 26 batters.
Isasi had the loss after throwing 5.1 innings and giving up eight runs, five of which were earned, and nine hits.
Both Hernandez and Rivero were 2-for-3 from the plate. Hernandez also had two runs. Both Bergner and Britney Lamb totaled two RBI.
Against UNC Pembroke, NSU's offense got started once again in the bottom of the first inning. Talenfeld hit an infield single to start the Sharks' offense. Noemi Luciani (Jr., Miami, Fla.) reached on a Brave field error, but advanced to third on the throw. On the same play, Talenfeld attempted to score, but was questionably called out at the plate. With two outs, Hernandez walked. UNC Pembroke then committed a throwing error as the Braves attempted to catch Hernandez stealing second, allowing Luciani to score and make it a 1-0 game. Donachie ripped an RBI-single to right field that drove in Hernandez, giving the Sharks a two-run lead.
NSU added to its lead in the second, scoring four runs. With one out and the bases loaded, Talenfeld walked, allowing Lamb to score from third. On the next play, NSU scored three runs. Luciani hit the ball to Jelena Shaw at third base, who overthrew the ball, allowing Lopez and Bergner to both score and Talenfeld to go to third. Then before time was called, NSU caught UNC Pembroke off-guard as Luciani went for second base. Martika Elmore's overthrew the ball, allowing Talenfeld to score and Luciani to safely get to second as the Sharks went up 6-0.
The Braves scored their lone run of the game in the top of the third. With two outs and Carissa Dancer on first, Courtney Hill hit an RBI double to center field to make it a 6-1 game.
The Sharks regained their six-run lead in the bottom half of the inning. After Donachie walked, Lamb's sacrifice bunt allowed Donachie to reach second. Donachie got to third as Lopez hit a fly ball to right field and then scored on a Bergner RBI-single up the middle.
NSU scored the final two runs of the game in bottom of the fifth. After Hernandez walked, Donachie hit an RBI-double to right center the drove in Hernandez. Then a Lamb double down the left field line allowed Donachie to score the game-ending run.
Sarradet earned her second win and pitched her second complete game. In five innings of work, she struck out eight and allowed just five hits and one run in 19 batters faced.
Candace Evans had the loss after give up five runs two earned and four hits after pitching one inning.
Both Donachie and Bergner were 2-for-2 against UNC Pembroke. Donachie also had two runs and two RBI.
NSU is back in action at the Barry/Nova Invitational on Saturday at the AD Griffin Sports Complex. The Sharks host Lynn at 2:30 p.m. and then take on Columbus State at 4:45 p.m.
