Box Score
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern softball team (15-14, 3-4 SSC) took a dramatic, 2-1, extra-inning win against Barry University (19-11, 4-6 SSC) Tuesday, March 25th, at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.
Erika Garcia (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) went the distance for the Sharks, pitching all eight innings and allowing seven hits and one run while striking out three batters. On offense, Garcia went 2-for-3 with a walk. Melanie Spicola (Jr., Umatilla, Fla.) went 2-for-4 in the game and scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh off a triple and a passed ball. Maegan Lee (Jr., Miami, Fla.) went 1-for-3 on the night, with the walk-off single to left field that scored Dakota Villella (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.) in the bottom of the eighth.
Barry scored the first run in the game in the top of the first. Kayla Ogle went to first base on a ground out to shortstop, stole second and advanced to third on a throw. Ogle scored the run off a sacrifice bunt from Hunter Mars, giving Barry the early 1-0 lead.
NSU's defense silenced Barry in the next six innings, holding them to only three hits until the top of the seventh.
The Sharks were not able to score until the eighth inning, but fought to get on the board earlier, as eight runners were left on base throughout the game. In the fourth, the Sharks rallied two hits with one out to load the bases before two strikeouts ended the inning. In the fifth, Spicola singled to second base to arrive on first. With two outs on the board, back-to-back walks once again loaded the bases, but the Sharks could not earn their needed hit.
Kristina Pazienza broke Barry's cold spell with a single up the middle in the top of the seventh. Nicole Szelest came up to bat next and reached on a fielder's choice while an error in the infield allowed Cruz to stay at second. With one out on the board, Alexis Kent grounded to first base, advancing Christal Cruz, pinch running for Pazienza, to second and Cheyenne Head, pinch running for Szelest, to third. With the Buccaneers in prime scoring position, the Sharks defense pulled through to leave both runners on base in the end of the inning.
NSU tallied two hits in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score and take the game into extra innings. Spicola swung a deep triple into right center before scoring the tying the run on a passed ball, forcing the game into its eighth inning.
In the top of the eigth, Ogle hit a double to left field and was tagged out running for the triple. After Mars landed on base with a single to left field, back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Buccaneers. Garcia pulled through for the inning-ending strikeout.
Villella set up the game-winning run with a single to left field and a fielding error allowed her to reach second. Lee then hit the walk-off RBI single deep into left field, allowing Villella to round the bases and score the Sharks game-winning run.
The 2-1 eight-inning win marked the Sharks first victory over Barry since 2010.
The Sharks will return to the field Wednesday to face the Bucs in a doubleheader, with first pitch set for 5 p.m.
For the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit www.NSUSharks.com. To have results sent directly to your cell phone via text message, sign up for SMS text message delivery by clicking here. For the latest news, be sure to sign up for the Shark Alert E-newsletter by clicking here.
