FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Apr. 10, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern softball team returned to its winning ways by taking two games at home against the Barry Buccaneers Saturday afternoon. The Sharks (37-13, 13-5 SSC) took the first game, 8-1 and scored 10 runs in the first inning of the second game against the Bucs (26-19, 8-7 SSC) in a 10-1 victory. The Sharks won the weekend series, 2-1.
"That was a great way to enjoy Senior Day," said Head Coach Lesa Boneè. "Friday night was ugly but I think we sent a message today."
Dana Bergner (Sr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) led the way in the opening game, hitting 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. She also had three putouts while playing second base. Brittney Lamb (Sr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) also scored two of the Sharks' eight runs.
Lauren Lopez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) led the Sharks to a season-high 10 run inning in which she drove in two runs and scored twice over two at bats. Her performance capped off a week in which she drove in seven runs and scored seven times.
The day started with Senior Day celebrations as seven Sharks were honored. After a scoreless first inning, the Sharks took the lead in the opening game with three runs in the second. Bergner led off the side with a single and was advanced on a sacrifice hit from Sarah Hart (Jr., Newburgh, Ind.).
Patty Rivero (Sr., Miami, Fla.) followed with a walk and Noemi Luciani (Sr., Miami, Fla.) reached base off an error by the shortstop that scored Bergner. With Lopez at bat, both runners advanced home on an error by the third baseman.
The Sharks duplicated their second inning with three more runs in the third. Lamb led off with a walk and was driven home by a Bergner single to left center field. Laura Saladrigas (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.), who reached on a fielder's choice, and Bergner both scored off errors to put the Sharks up by six.
Lopez drove in a run in the fifth inning off a sacrifice fly out and Bergner did the same in the sixth. The Sharks held the Bucs to only one run over seven innings to tie up the weekend series.
Dani Caron (Sr., Wellington, Fla.) pitched a complete game and earned her 15th victory of the season. She did not give up an earned run and only allowed three hits. She did not allow a walk and struck out four batters.
The Sharks started the second game with their best inning of the season, scoring 10 runs. The Sharks had 14 at bats and all but one batter reached base in the frame. NSU had six hits, three walks, two hit batters, and one base reached on an error.
Luciani, Rachel Talenfeld (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), and Lopez all scored twice while Jessica Hernandez, Lamb, Hart, and Rivero all scored once. Five Sharks had at least one RBI in the first inning. The Bucs scored one run in the fourth inning but were never able to climb back in the game.
With a massive amount of run support from the start, Lexi Sarradet (Jr., Miami, Fla.) shut down Barry and pitched all five innings. She allowed five hits and one run while striking out three batters. Sarradet improved her overall record to 9-6.
The Sharks will look to pick up two more regional wins at home this Wednesday when they take on Palm Beach Atlantic in a double-header starting at 5:30 pm.
