NSU Sharks News
Softball Upsets Third-Seeded Florida Southern to Advance to Championship Sunday
Sharks face Valdosta State in championship game
Valdosta, Ga. (May 9, 2009) - Sixth-seeded Nova Southeastern University softball fell 1-0 to second seed Valdosta State in its first game on Saturday, but rebounded elimination game later in the day to defeat third-seeded and No. 22 nationally-ranked Florida Southern 5-1. NSU now advances to the NCAA South Regional in Valdosta championship game on Sunday, where they will face Valdosta State, who is also ranked No. 3 in the nation. In the game with Valdosta State, the Lady Blazers scored their only run in the top of the third. With two outs and runners on the corners, Alyssa Shirey sent RBI single through the left side in order to bring home Andi Braswell.
Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) received the loss after allowing one run off five hits in seven complete innings. Sarradet also fanned 10 batters, marking the fifth time this season she's registered 10 or more strikeouts in a game.
Brianna Collis had the win after allowing four hits and striking out three in six innings. Holly Satterfield was credited with the save as she pitched the final innings, striking out two and allowing no hits.
Noemi Luciani had the Sharks' only multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3 from the plate.
In the elimination game later on Saturday night, NSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. After reaching base on a single, Luciani eventually got to third on back-to-back sacrifice bunts by Rachel Talenfeld (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and April Donachie (Sr., Orlando, Fla.). A Lauren Lopez single up the middle drove in Luiciani for the game's first run.
Florida Southern answered in the bottom of the first with a lead-off homerun to center field by Sara Lovestrand to even the score at 1-1.
Back-to-back solo blasts by Donachie and Lopez in the top of the third allowed NSU to go up 3-1. Donachie had a long shot to left center that bounced into the parking lot behind the ball field. Meanwhile, Lopez drilled a shot just behind the center field fence.
NSU added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to give the Sharks a four-run lead. With one out, a Dana Bergner (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) sacrifice fly was deep enough to allow Lopez to score from third and advance Brittney Lamb (Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) to second. In the next at-bat, Erica Barrabi (Fr., Sunrise, Fla.) ripped a two-out RBI-single to left field, bringing home Lamb to put NSU ahead 5-1.
Dani Caron (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) received the win after throwing 5.2 innings and allowing one run off seven hits. Sarradet was credited with the save after she came in for the final 1.1 innings and giving up just one hit.
Christine Clark had the loss after allowing three runs off seven hits in 2.2 innings of work.
Six different Sharks had two hits during the game. Lopez also had two RBI and scored two runs.
