FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Mar. 19, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern softball team started their weekend series on a solid note Friday, defeating the Florida Tech Panthers, 10-2 (6) at home.

Jessica Hernandez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) hit a walk-off triple in the bottom of the sixth inning that put the Sharks (25-7, 3-1 SSC) ahead by eight runs. She went 3-for-4 on the day with two runs and four RBI. She has now batted in a run in seven straight games and leads the team with 31 RBI this season.

Florida Tech (13-8, 4-3 SSC) held NSU to only one hit in the first two innings but the Sharks took the lead with four runs in the third. Patty Rivero (Sr., Miami, Fla.) started the scoring run with a double to left field before Noemi Luciani (Sr., Miami, Fla.) walked. Rachel Talenfeld (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) laid down a bunt to advance the runners but a throwing error was committed, allowing two runners to come home.

Hernandez earned her first RBI with a single and was eventually brought home off of a double from Laura Saladrigas (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.). It was the freshman pitcher's sixth RBI of the season.

Luciani returned in the fourth inning and batted in two runs with a double to right center field. The Panthers would score their only two runs in the fifth inning but the Sharks struck back when Hernandez scored off of an error in the bottom of the fifth.

In the sixth and final inning, both Erica Barrabi (So., Sunrise, Fla.) and Luciani reached base off errors. Dani Caron (Sr., Wellington, Fla.) was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases for Hernandez's game-winning triple.

Devin Higginbotham (Jr., Palatka, Fla.) faced the Panthers for the second time this year and earned the victory. She pitched a complete game in which she held FIT to three hits while striking out five batters. She improved her overall record to 6-1

The Nova Southeastern softball team will continue its weekend series against Florida Tech tomorrow at 1 pm.