SAINT LEO, Fla. (Apr. 17, 2010) - The Nova Southeastern softball team improved its season record against Saint Leo to 4-0 with two wins against the Lions on the road Saturday afternoon. The Sharks (40-15, 16-5 SSC) took the first game, 6-5 and closed the show with a 7-1 victory over the Lions (19-28, 6-12 SSC).

"It was a really solid series for us in all phases of the game," said Head Coach Lesa Boneè. "We have five more games and we need to finish strong."

The first game marked the 450th career win for Coach Boneè. Laura Saladrigas (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.), Lauren Lopez (Sr., Miami, Fla.), and Jessica Hernandez (Sr., Miami, Fla.) all went 3-for-4 at the plate. The trio combined for five of the Sharks' six runs and also added four RBI.

In the series finale, Lopez was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a single, a home run, and two doubles. She scored three runs and drove in three in her team's 40th win of the year. Hernandez went 3-for-4 in the contest with three RBI.

In the opening game, the Sharks took the lead by scoring three runs in the first inning. The first three NSU batters, Noemi Luciani (Sr., Miami, Fla.), Rachel Talenfeld (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Lopez, all reached base to start the day. Lopez drove home Luciani while Hernandez and Saladrigas both earned their first RBI in the opening frame.

Saint Leo answered back with a run on two hits and an error in the second inning. NSU repeated their early efforts by putting three runs on the board in the third inning. Lopez, Hernandez, and Saladrigas all kicked off the frame with singles, one of which drove in a run.

Brittney Lamb (Sr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) hit a sacrifice bunt that scored another run and Dana Bergner (Sr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) hit a single to left field that drove in her team's final run of the game. Trailing by five runs, the Lions made it interesting by scoring four times in the sixth inning. The Sharks maintained composure in the final inning to clinch the weekend series victory.

Devin Higginbotham (Jr., Palatka, Fla.) earned her first win in two weeks, improving her record to 10-4. She allowed one earned run and no walks while striking out two batters.

For the third consecutive outing, the Sharks put multiple runs on the board in the first inning. Luciani and Lopez both started the game off with singles before Hernandez drove in a run with a single through the right side. With runners on the corners, Lopez and Hernandez successfully pulled off the double steal to score another run.

Saint Leo scored their only run of the game in the third inning, but Lopez answered back with a solo bomb in the fifth. NSU had its biggest frame of the weekend in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs. Patty Rivero (Sr., Miami, Fla.), Luciani, and Talenfeld all reached base to start the final inning. With the bases loaded, Lopez unleashed her seventh hit of the day with a double to left center field, driving in two runs. Hernandez drove in the final two runs with a single to left field.

Lexi Sarradet (Jr., Miami, Fla.) pitched the complete game and picked up her tenth win. She only allowed one run on four hits while striking out six Lions. She is now 10-7 overall.

The Sharks will return to action this Wednesday, Apr. 21 when they visit St. Thomas in a double-header beginning at 3 pm.