GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – It was an exciting night at the AD Griffin Sports Complex as the Nova Southeastern University softball team (26-18) completed the sweep over the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish (22-16) and head coach Lesa Bonee earned her 300th victory at NSU Friday evening.

The Sharks rode the back of senior pitcher Lexi Sarradet (Miami, Fla.) in game one with a 5-2 victory, but also rallied together a seven-run fourth inning in game two to win 8-3.

GAME ONE
The Sharks persevered in game one after finding themselves down 1-0 in the top half of the first inning. The Sailfish strung together three hits and utilized a sacrifice fly to plate home their first run.

NSU quickly fought back in the home half of the inning as the first run came off an RBI single from Laura Saladrigas (Hollywood, Fla.), scoring Katie Kelton (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.), who led off the game with a walk.

Freshman Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and freshman Dani Millan (Ventura, Calif.) followed suit with walks to load the bases. Continuing with patience at the plate, the Sharks took the lead after senior Brittany Phillips (Seminole, Fla.) saw four straight pitches cross the plate out of the strike zone to bring home Nova Southeastern’s second run.

NSU not only took the lead but added an insurance run on a Sara DeMuth (Jr., Plant City, Fla.) sacrifice fly.

Once again, the combo of Kelton and Saladrigas produced another run for the Sharks in the second inning. Kelton reached on her first hit of the ballgame and advanced to second on a Rachel Talenfeld (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) sacrifice bunt. After stealing third, Kelton was driven home on another RBI single by Saladrigas to put the Sharks up 4-1.

In the third, the Sailfish cut the Sharks lead in half by scoring an unearned run.

The Sharks got that run back in the fifth as Saladrigas drilled her fifth dinger of the year over the left field fence.

Saladrigas and Kelton were the only Sharks to get hits in the game as Saladrigas finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and Kelton was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Sarradet, the reigning Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Week, was once again lights out as she tossed a complete game, hurling double-digit strikeouts with 11. With the win, Sarradet (10-4) has claimed the second spot in the NSU career book with 67 wins, surpassing former teammate Dani Caron (2007-10).

GAME TWO
Senior Devin Higginbotham (Palatka, Fla.) was given the starting nod in game two and threw six complete innings before Saladrigas came in for relief.

Higginbotham (5-3) only surrendered one earned run and one walk, while striking out two.

The Sharks put the first run on the scoreboard as Bondarenko singled home Talenfeld with two outs in the first.

Higginbotham looked to shutout Palm Beach Atlantic for the third straight inning, but home plate umpire said Bondarenko never touched home on a bases loaded drop third strike, which platted home two runs as the Sailfish took the 2-1 lead.

Palm Beach Atlantic added an additional run in the fourth as they took a two-run lead, 3-1.

In the home half of the frame, the Sharks scored seven unearned runs off one hit to put the game in the Sharks’ favor. After Bondarenko reached on a fielding error, she would score as she left on contact from third and was hit in the helmet on the attempted throw home.

Millan, who is on pace to break the NSU all-time career hit by pitch record, was hit for the 14th time of the season with nobody out. Millan eventually was called out at a close play at the plate.

With two outs, Gianni Artidiello (Fr., Miami, Fla.) walked to load the bases before PBA made a pitching change. NSU evened the game on the first illegal pitch call on the Palm Beach Atlantic’s hurler. The pitcher was once again called for an illegal pitch as NSU regained the lead, 4-3.

As both Kelton and Talenfeld walked to juice the bases, Saladrigas drove home her 39th, 40th and 41st RBI as she dropped a double in center to clear the bases. The Sharks slugger later scored on a PBA error.

Between Higginbotham and Saladrigas, the Sharks pitching staff closed out the game holding the Sailfish scoreless.

The Sharks will continue non-conference action as they play a doubleheader on April 19 in Miami against St. Thomas beginning at 3 p.m.

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