DAVIE, Fla. – Natalie Heeley scored the game-winner, while Amber Jack tossed a five-hit shutout to lead the top-ranked Barry University softball team (38-3, 15-1) to a 1-0 Sunshine State Conference win over the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Saturday afternoon at the A.D. Griffin Sports Complex.

 

Cristina DeTagle went 2-for-2 to lead the Buccaneers at the plate, while Jack (24-1) tossed the five-hit shutout and struck out seven. Rachel Talenfeld and April Donachie both went 2-for-3 to lead the Sharks (42-16, 11-5 SSC) offensively. NSU pitcher Dani Caron (14-7) scattered five hits over seven innings and allowed one unearned run in the loss.

 

The biggest action in the game came in the top of the seventh inning when Heeley reached on a leadoff double. With one out, Holli Davis hit a grounder to the NSU shortstop that was flung out of play, which allowed Davis to reach second and Heeley to score to go ahead run. In the bottom of the same inning, Donachie reached base on a one-out single, but Brooke Mitchell grounded out and Dana Bergner struck out swinging to end the game.

 

Both NSU and Barry narrowly missed out on scoring opportunities in the sixth. Barry’s Shyla Rider reached on a one-out single and was sacrificed to second. After a passed ball, Rider advanced to third and then Ashley Likens reached on a free pass to put runners at the corners. The Sharks managed to get out of the jam when Megan Young grounded into a fielder’s choice and Likens was out at second.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, Kelly Brookins pinch hit for Katie Pepper and was hit by Jack to lead off the inning. Pepper re-entered the game and was sacrificed to second by Noemi Luciani. Talenfeld followed with a bloop single to centerfield, which nearly allowed Pepper to score as she rounded third. But a rifled throw from Rider in center held the runner at bay and Jack recorded consecutive outs to get out of the inning unscathed.

 

Although evenly matched across the board, three defensive miscues by NSU were the difference in the game. The Sharks managed to overcome the first two, but the third resulted in the Bucs’ scoring the winning run. Both teams recorded five hits apiece.

 

Both teams will return to action on Sunday, Apr. 20 for an SSC doubleheader starting at 1 pm.

 

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Pitchers: Barry - Amber Jack. Nova Southeastern - Dani Caron.

Win-Amber Jack(24-1)  Loss-Dani Caron(14-7)  T-1:27  A-142

Game: SB0419