NSU Sharks News
Softball Sweeps Northwood in Doubleheader
Lopez records two triples in game two
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University's softball team won both games in its doubleheader against Northwood on Tuesday at the AD Griffin Sports Complex, defeating the Seahawks 8-0 in five innings in game one and the 7-5 in game two. With the win, NSU improves to 7-1 on the season. Northwood falls to 0-6.In the first game, Rachel Talenfeld (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) started the Sharks' offense in the first inning with a triple to center field and then scored on an April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) ground out. In the next at-bat, Brittney Lamb (Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) singled through the left side and then moved to second on a Lauren Lopez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) ground out. Dana Bergner (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) sent a two-out double to left center in order to drive in Lamb and make it a 2-0 game.
NSU added one run in both the second and third innings. After a hit up the middle in the second inning, Jessica Rockwell (Sr., Middleburg, Fla.) made her way around the bases, advancing to second on a ground out, stealing third and then ultimately crossing home plate on a wild pitch. Meanwhile, Donachie started the third inning with a triple to right field and then was allowed to come home off a Northwood illegal pitch and gave NSU the 4-0 lead.
The rest of NSU's runs all came in the fourth inning as the Sharks almost batted through their entire line-up. With one out, Rockwell had an infield single and then stole second. As Katie Pepper (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) laid down a bunt and ultimately got to second, Rockwell scored to put the Sharks up by five. Pepper moved to third on a wild pitch, while Noemi Luciani (Jr., Miami, Fla.) walked and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Another Seahawk wild pitch occurred, this time allowing Pepper to score. On the same play, Luciani was also able to reach home on a Northwood error and made it a 7-0 game. Later in the inning, with two outs, Donachie hit a double to center field and scored the game-winning run as Lamb doubled to left field in the next at-bat.
Dani Caron received the win after pitching all five innings and allowing just four hits and fanning six. Maryelisa Gierke had the loss after giving up eight runs off nine hits in four innings of work.
Rockwell was 2-for-2 with two runs, while both Donachie and Lamb went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
In game two, with two outs in the first inning, Lamb hit a single to right center. In the next at-bat, Lopez hit the ball to center field and got to third as the Northwood outfield committed an error that also allowed Lamb to score. Meanwhile, Lopez scored on an RBI-single from Bergner to right field and put the Sharks up 2-0.
Northwood got on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Kayla Saastamoninen began the inning with a walk and then got to second on a wild pitch. On a Chantelle Neff ground out, Saastamoninen moved over to third. Another NSU wild pitch allowed for Saastamoninen to reach home and make it a one-run game.
However, NSU answered with four runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs and the bases loaded, Lamb walked, allowing Luciani to score from third. In the next at-bat, Lopez ripped a triple down the left field line, driving in Talenfeld from third, Donachie from second and Lamb from first to give the Sharks a 6-1 advantage.
The Seahawks cut NSU's lead to three in the top of the third. With one out and Samantha Whobrey on second and Jessica Stahl on third, Jessica Russell hit an RBI-single to left field to bring home Stahl and move Whobrey over one base. Then with two outs, an illegal pitch allowed for Whobrey to score to make it 6-3.
Northwood continued to chip away at NSU's lead, scoring one run in both the fourth and sixth innings. With two outs and Gierke on second in the fourth inning, Whobrey hit an RBI-double to left center in order to drive in Gierke. Then in the sixth, Kendall Brooks and Stahl hit back-to-back one-out singles. The Seahawks loaded up the bases as Whobrey walked. Maddie Bedingfield sent a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Brooks to score and make it a one-run 6-5 game.
NSU gained a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Talenfeld reached first on a Seahawk fielding error and then stole second. A Donachie walk and a Lamb single through the left side loaded up the bases for Lopez, whose infield ground out was deep enough to allow a speedy Talenfeld reach home and put the Sharks ahead 7-5.
Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) had the win after pitching all seven innings. She struck out nine and allowed five runs - four earned - off six hits. Michelle Crompton had the loss after giving up six runs - five earned - off five hits in two innings of work.
Lopez was 3-for-4 in the second game with four RBI and one run scored.
NSU is back in action this weekend when the Sharks travel to Pensacola, Fla., to participate in the Regional Crossover hosted by West Florida. The Sharks kick off the tournament on Friday with a doubleheader against North Alabama scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
