NSU Sharks News
Softball Takes Twinbill From Palm Beach Atlantic
Sharks win game one in eight innings then rally for game two win
Lake Worth, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University's softball team sweep both games of its midweek doubleheader with Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday at John W. Anderson Field. The Sharks took the first game 3-1 in extra innings and then won the second 12-8.Game one started similar to this season's earlier meeting between NSU and Palm Beach Atlantic with both teams being held scoreless through the first five innings. However, the Sharks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth. With one out and bases loaded, Jessica Hernandez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) hit a ball over to first Dani Perrotti, who initially mishandled the ball and allowed Noemi Luciani (Jr., Miami, Fla.) to score from third base to put the Sharks up 1-0.
Palm Beach Atlantic tied the game in the bottom of the seventh en route to forcing extra innings. With one out and a runner on second, Candace Horton's RBI-double to right field allowed Chelsea Gravini to score the game-tying run. NSU took a critical 3-1 advantage in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Lauren Lopez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) and Hernandez had back-to-back singles. Dana Bergner (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) launched what proved to be the game-winning double to deep center field, driving in both Lopez and Hernandez.
Dani Caron (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) earned the win after pitching all eight innings, giving up six hits and one run. She also struck out three batters.
Ashley Jones received the loss after allowing nine runs and three runs in eight innings of work.
Lopez, Luciani and Hernandez were all 2-for-4 with one run for the Sharks.
Game two proved to be a slugfest as the two teams combined for 20 runs and 26 hits. Palm Beach Atlantic got out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with solo home run from Chelsea Gravini. Then with the bases loaded, Caitlin Bouschet reached home on a passed ball.
NSU answered in the top of the second. With a Lopez on second, Bergner smacked a single through the left side, allowing Lopez to score and make it a 2-1 game in favor of the Sailfish. The Sailfish regained a two-run lead in bottom half of the inning. With one out and Horton on second, Mari Stokes sent an RBI single to center field, allowing Horton to score.
NSU came back to knot the game up at 3-3 in the third. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Lopez hit a two-run single up the middle, driving in junior Patty Rivero (Jr., Miami, Fla.) from third and Luciani from second.
Palm Beach Atlantic broke the tie in the fourth with a Bouschet grand slam to put the Sailfish up 7-3.
The Sharks rallied in the fifth and sixth innings, quickly erasing the four-run deficit. With two outs, April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) blasted a two-run homer to center field. Lopez continued the Sharks rally with a single to right field. Hernandez added a hit that moved Lopez to third, while Hernandez advanced to second on the throw to third. Bergner hit routine fly ball to center field for what appeared to be the third out of the inning, but the ball went through the glove of Gravini and allowed both Lopez and Hernandez to score and make it a 7-7 game.
Then in the sixth, NSU went through its entire batting order. With one out and bases loaded, Lopez smacked a single to left field, where a fielding miscue by the Sailfish allow for Lopez to reach third and the Sharks to score three. Lopez reached home on a Hernandez single. Meanwhile, Hernandez eventually scored on a two-out Jessica Rockwell (Sr., Middleburg, Fla.) single to put the Sharks up 12-7.
The Sailfish trimmed NSU's lead down to four in the bottom portion of the sixth with another Bouschet home run to center field.
Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) picked up the win after pitching all seven innings. She fanned seven batters and allowed nine hits and eight runs - seven of which were earned.
Heather Laird had the loss after allowing six runs - one earned - in 1.1 innings of work.
Both Luciani and Lopez were 4-for-5 with three runs from the plate.
NSU is back in action on the road this weekend when the Sharks travel to Clearwater, Fla., for the Eckerd Spring Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Sharks kick off the tournament on Friday against Saint Leo at 4 p.m., and Flagler at 6:30 p.m.
