NSU Sharks News

Sharks dominate St. Thomas, fall to Palm Beach Atlantic in eight innings

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University's softball team won one and lost one on Sunday at the AD Griffin Sports Complex to close out the Barry/Nova Invitational and opening weekend. The Sharks downed St. Thomas 11-0 in six innings in their first game and then fell 1-0 in eight innings to Palm Beach Atlantic.

In its first game, NSU's bats came alive in the final four innings. During the third, Patty Rivero (Jr., Miami, Fla.) and Rachel Talenfeld (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) drew back-to-back walks. In the next at-bat, Noemi Luciani (Jr., Miami, Fla.) hit a fielder's choice to St. Thomas pitcher Ashley Heil, who opted to attempt to get Rivero on the force out at third. However, Heil's throw sailed past third-baseman Koely Kempisty, allowing Rivero, Talenfeld and Luciani all to score on the play and put NSU up 3-0.

The Sharks added another run in the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, Luciani smacked a deep sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Dana Bergner (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.).

Two more runs in the fifth provided NSU with a six-run advantage. After a Lauren Lopez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) single and Jessica Hernandez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) getting on base due to a St. Thomas miscue, Jessica Rockwell (Sr., Miami, Fla.) laced a double down the left field line, scoring Lopez and advancing Hernandez to third. Hernandez would scored on a Bergner sacrifice fly to right field.

NSU's big inning came in the sixth as the Sharks posted five runs. After a Talenfeld single, Luciani singled to right field, allowing a speedy Talenfeld to race around the bases and score. Meanwhile, Luciani got home as Brittney Lamb (Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) ripped a double to left field. In the next at-bat, April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) tripled down the right field line, driving in Lamb and making it a 9-0 game. Lopez hit an RBI-single up the middle to bring Donachie home and then eventually scored what proved to be the game's final run on a Bergner sacrifice fly.

Dani Caron (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) pitched five innings en route to picking up the win. Facing 15 batters, she allowed just one hit and struck out five.

Heyl had the loss after giving up three runs off four hits in three innings of work.

Both Lamb and Lopez were 3-for-4 in the game and each had one RBI. Meanwhile, Luciani and Bergner each recorded two RBI.

The NSU-Palm Beach Atlantic game proved to be a pitching and defensive battle. Neither team allowed for the other to get much offense as all the hits were done within the game's first seven innings. The Sailfish only got three hits  all singles  as the Sharks registered a Bergner double in the third and a Lopez single in the seventh.

After seven scoreless innings, Palm Beach Atlantic scored what proved to be the game's lone run in the top of the eighth. With Abbey Shipman placed on second to start the inning due to international tie-breaker rules, Candace Horton laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Shipman to move to third. Shipman ultimately scored as Brittany Schneider hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Ashley Jones had the win after throwing all eight innings, giving up two hits and striking out six.

Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) had the loss. She also threw all eight innings and struck out six.

NSU returns to action on Tuesday at the AD Griffin Sports Complex, hosting Northwood in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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