BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (20-11, 2-5 SSC) did not have a problem getting past the Eckerd Tritons (11-22, 0-7 SSC) to open the three-game series with a win Friday evening, 8-0, in five innings, at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.

In the run-rule win, the Sharks found success through their bats, tallying 10 hits on the night. Junior Katie Kelton (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was NSU’s leader at the plate as the centerfielder posted a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including her second triple of the season.

Senior Brittany Phillips (Seminole, Fla.) also had a multi-hit performance as she was 2-for-3, driving in a game-high two RBI.

On the mound, junior Sara DeMuth (Plant City, Fla.) threw a gem as she tossed four scoreless innings, including striking out the side in a bases loaded jam in the fourth.

Freshman Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.) started the Sharks rally in the first as she led of the inning with a single up the middle. Kelton laid down a bunt single, moving Artidiello to second, putting speed on the base paths for NSU.

Senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) put down her seventh sacrifice bunt of the season, moving Artidiello and Kelton into scoring position for the Sharks’ RBI leader, Laura Saladrigas (So., Hollywood, Fla.). Saladrigas plated home Nova Southeastern’s first run, while Phillips drove a liner through the left side to put the Sharks up 2-0.

Freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) stepped to plate and drove an outside pitch over the right fielders head for a standup triple, driving home Philips and taking a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.

In the home half of the second, NSU fed of the rally in the first, scoring four runs in the frame for a 7-0 lead.

DeMuth doubled to right center on a 3-2 count for her sixth two bagger of the season. As Marissa Raimo (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) walked, she continued on to second for the stolen base. Confusing the Eckerd defense, DeMuth advanced home on the play for NSU’s fifth run.

Kelton would triple to right center and eventually touch home on a throwing error. With a pitching change from the Tritons, the Sharks continued the pounding as Saladrigas walked with two outs. Phillips once again singled, driving home her second run of the evening.

In the third, Talenfeld joined in on the RBI action as she singled home Artidiello from second as NSU pulled away 8-0.

DeMuth (9-7) only allowed three hits in the outing while striking out seven and not surrendering a walk.

Saladrigas came into relief the final inning as she held the Tritons hitless and struck out one.

Kaitlyn Doughtery (5-7) earned the loss throwing only 1.1 innings, giving up six runs on six hits.

The Sharks and Tritons conclude the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.