FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University softball team (22-14, 4-8 SSC), who sits at No. 8 in the recent South Region Poll, will tackle the Barry University Buccaneers (25-7, 11-1 SSC) in a three-game series Friday, April 1 and Saturday April 2 at Buccaneer Field.
The Sharks are coming off a three-game series against Florida Tech, where NSU struggled both offensively and defensively, and did not earn a win against the Panthers.
In the final game of the series, senior Rachel Talenfeld (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) broke the all-time walk record at 95, surpassing NSU’s Hall of Famer Kim Eason who held the record for nearly 13 years.
During the series, freshman Gina Bondarendo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) finished 3-for-7 at the plate for a .429 batting average, roping two doubles and driving in two of the Sharks’ six runs.
Laura Saladrigas (So., Hollywood, Fla.) saw the ball well as she hit the ball hard in every at-bat and finished with a .333 batting average.
Senior Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) did suffer a loss but only allowed one earned run in her outing.
About Barry
The Bucs, who are No. 7 in the South Region Poll, hold three of the top five batting averages in the Sunshine State Conference. Alyssa Goldsmith sits second in the SSC and leads the team in batting percentage at .474 with 114 at bats, 54 hits and 32 runs. Teammate Jessica Tabor is coming off a big weekend as she drove in four runs in the first game and three in the second, securing her space at third in the SSC with a .445 batting average. Grace Collins is fourth in the SSC with a .417 batting average as she posted four runs for the weekend.
Bevlin (5-0) picked up her second straight conference win in relief, working 5.1 innings behind Paula Mackin. Bevlin allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks.
The Series vs. Barry
The Sharks have not fared wall in the all-time series as Barry holds a 32-10 advantage, but NSU has won the last two series against the Buccaneers.
Last season NSU dominated two of the three games, winning, 10-1 and 8-1 while dropping a single game with a final score 8-5.
