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Box Score 2
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern softball team (17-14, 5-4 SSC) swept the Barry Buccaneers (19-13, 4-8 SSC) with two wins Wednesday, 4-0 and 2-1, at the A.D. Griffin Sports Complex.
The Sharks earned the wins in the circle with two fantastic performances from Rebecca Thornton (Fr., Lodi, Calif.) and Erika Garcia (Sr., Pembroke Pines), combining to allow only one run on the night. Thornton went the distance for the Sharks in the first game, allowing no runs, six hits while throwing four strikeouts. In game two, Garcia gave up four hits, one run and struck out two. Offensively, the two combined for half of the team's RBI on the night.
Game One
The Sharks scored in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. With two outs on the board, Garcia walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Katrina Ammons (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) blasted the ball down the left field line for the RBI double and the first run of the day. In the next at bat, Thornton hit a single deep into center field, bringing Ammons home. Thornton scored the third run of the inning on an error by the Bucs at shortstop.
NSU scored their final run in the bottom of the second. The Bucs set up the scoring play on an error, advancing Lorena Spaulding (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to first base. A single up the middle by Spicola, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Samira Tanaka (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil) put Spaulding one base away. With one out on the board, Garcia hit a sacrifice fly for Spaulding, putting the Sharks up 4-0.
For the rest of the game, the Sharks had four hits, with two runners left in scoring position. Barry threatened to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back singles by Hunter Mars and Julie Brito put two runners on base. With two outs, Kristina Pazienza came up to bat and filled the bases for the Bucs on a single to left field. Thornton would get out of the jam, drawing the third out on a pop-up to shortstop.
The defense held Barry to only two hits for the rest of the game, giving the Sharks the series win.
Game Two
The Sharks completed the sweep in game two by taking advantage of the moment, scoring two runs on two hits.
NSU scored its first run in the bottom of the second. Dakota Villella (Fr., Hollywood, Fla.) reached scoring position on a Bucs throwing error. A ground out to second base by Gina Bondarenko (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) advanced Villella to third. Villella would sprint to home on a passed ball, giving the Sharks the 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Sharks scored the difference-making run off an error. Spicola was walked to first and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Tanaka. Next at bat, Garcia reached base on a fielding error, which allowed Spicola to score all the way from second.
Barry scored one run in the top of the sixth as a huge throw from Spicola prevented them from tying the game. Kelly Martinez was walked to first. Megan Copeland came next to bat and singled through the left side, putting Martinez in scoring position. On one out, Marts notched a sacrifice bunt to put Martinez on third and Copeland on second. Brito hammered through the right side, scoring Martinez, before Spicola threw a dagger from the right field to home. The outfield assist reached the catcher about three steps before Copeland cross the play, preventing the game-tying run.
With a one run lead, Garcia held Barry hitless in the seventh to secure her second one-run win over Barry in the series.
The series sweep is the first in program history over Barry. NSU is only the second program to sweep the Bucs in a three-game conference series over the last nine seasons.
The Sharks will return to the field this Friday, March 28th, to face in conference foe, Lynn University at 4 p.m.
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