NSU Sharks News
Softball Downs Both Lynn and Columbus State
Sarradet fires no-hitter in 8-0 victory over Lynn
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University's softball team picked up two more wins at the Barry/Nova Invitational on Saturday, defeating Lynn 8-0 in six innings and Columbus State 2-0 at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.Lexi Sarradet pitched a no-hitter against Lynn, marking the third no-hitter of her career. Her first two came last season as both Paine and Southern Connecticut State were hitless. Sarradet threw all six innings, tossing just three balls and three strikes and facing 21 batters.
Stellar defensive efforts helped clinched the no-hitter. In the second inning, shortstop Brittney Lamb (Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) grabbed a line-drive out of the air and then made a tough catch on a pop-up in the fourth inning to retire the side. Meanwhile, Patty Rivero (Jr., Miami, Fla.) kept the hopes of a no-hitter alive in the top of the sixth as she made a diving catch in left field to record the final out of the inning.
Offensively, NSU scored four runs in the third and added three in the fourth en route to taking a 7-0 lead. With one out, Noemi Luciani (Jr., Miami, Fla.) walked and then reached second on a passed ball. Lamb then hit an RBI-double to left center to drive in Luciani and put the Sharks up 1-0. In the next at-bat, April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) walked and gave the Sharks runners at first and second. A passed ball allowed both Lamb and Donachie to advance one base. With runners in scoring position, Jessica Hernandez hit an infield grounder, but Lynn committed a throwing error that allowed both Lamb and Donachie to score and Hernandez to reach second. Hernandez moved to third on a Jessica Rockwell (Sr., Middleburg, Fla.) grounder and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Sharks a 4-0 advantage.
After Katie Pepper (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) walked to start the fourth inning, both Rachel Talenfeld (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Luciani recorded infield singles. With the bases loaded, Lamb ripped a two-run double to center field, driving in Pepper from third and Talenfeld from second. Luciani ultimately scored on a passed ball to put the Sharks ahead by seven runs.
The Sharks scored two more in the bottom of the sixth. Lamb started out the inning by being hit by a pitch. Donachie laid down a bunt and reached first, while Lamb moved over to second. A Hernandez walked loaded up the bases for Rockwell, whose single to the outfield allowed both Lamb to scored the game-ending run.
Marianne Johnson had the loss for the Fighting Knights after giving up seven runs - three earned - off eight hits in three innings.
Lamb, Luciani and Talenfeld all recorded two hits. Lamb was 2-for-2 with two runs and three RBI. Luciani and Talenfeld were both 2-for-3. Luciani also had two runs.
Against Columbus State, the Sharks got one run in both the third and fourth innings. NSU's third inning run came as the Cougars committed a pair of miscues. With one out, Rivero reached on a fielding error and then advanced to second as Talenfeld had a sacrifice bunt. A Luciani single put Rivero on third, but on the same play, Columbus State committed another fielding error, giving Rivero enough time to reach home.
In the fourth inning, Donachie had a lead-off double to right center and then moved to third as Lauren Lopez flied out to center field. Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Donachie to score and give the Sharks the 2-0 advantage.
Dani Caron (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) received the win after throwing all seven innings. She recorded five hits and four strikeouts.
Kristi Bullard had the loss after allowing two runs - one earned - off four hits in six innings of work.
NSU closes out its opening weekend and the Barry/Nova Invitational on Sunday at the AD Griffin Sports Complex. The Sharks take on St. Thomas at 3:00 p.m. and then Palm Beach Atlantic at 5:15 p.m.
