GULF SHORES, Ala. – Head Coach Julie LeMaire earned her 500th career win in today’s victory over West Alabama. The victory was also highlighted by Cassidy Duskin’s first collegiate perfect game, becoming the first Shark to do so since Lexie Storrer threw one in 2018. NSU would go 1-1 on the day, dropping their first game against the 24th-ranked Oklahoma Christian Eagles.
(GAME ONE)
Score: Nova Southeastern 5 (W: B. Mahaney, 0-1) | No. 24 Oklahoma Christian 6 (W: J. Dickson, 0)
Records: Nova Southeastern (2-2) | No. 24 Oklahoma Christian (3-1)
Location: Gulf Shores, Ala. | Gulf Shores Complex
Get Social: @NSUSharks and @NSUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
TOP 3rd – Brenna Lokeinsky started the action, batting in Cassidy Duskin to give NSU an early 1-0 lead.
BOT 3rd – The floodgates opened in the bottom of the third as Oklahoma Christian scored six runs to take a commanding 6-1 advantage.
TOP 6th – The Sharks weren’t going away yet as an RBI double by Lauren Margolis brought in two runs for the Sharks to cut their deficit to three. Shortly after, a sacrifice fly from Abbey Moore tacked on another run. Duskin then singled up the middle to bring Cassidy Patterson across home plate and cut the Sharks deficit to one run.
NSU continued to fight but were unable to complete the comeback, dropping game one 6-5.
(GAME TWO)
Score: Nova Southeastern 1 (W: C. Duskin, 2-0) | West Alabama 0 (L: M. Wright, 1-1)
Records: Nova Southeastern (3-2) | West Alabama (2-2)
Location: Gulf Shores, Ala. | Gulf Shores Complex
Get Social: @NSUSharks and @NSUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
TOP 2nd – Aubrey Hutzler hit a home run to put NSU ahead 1-0.
The rest of the game featured a pitching clinic from Cassidy Duskin as she completed the perfect game and secured the 1-0 victory for the Sharks.
Aubrey Hutzler – 1 HR
Cassidy Duskin – Perfect game
Head Coach Julie LeMaire – 500th career victory
Head Coach Julie LeMaire – Coming out against Oklahoma Christian this am, we made some crucial mistakes to put ourselves behind by 5 runs and it was good to see the girls battle back and fight to the end even though we came up short. After we fought so hard and didn’t secure that win, it’s hard to decide how the following game will go. Cassidy Duskin came out on the mound and set the tempo right away! To be able to silence their hitters is extremely difficult, but to throw a perfect game against them is incredible! Our defense stepped up behind her for a true team effort in the win. Many people go through their entire career and will never throw a perfect game and she did it the first weekend among one of the best teams in the region. Cass has ice in her veins and isn’t scared to compete against anyone, I’m so proud of her!
Cassidy Duskin – I am so blessed for this opportunity. For my last year, I decided to travel 15 hours from home, and I would not change that decision for anything else. Thank you to my team and my coaches for having my back in this moment. This is the best accomplishment I have ever had in my softball career, and I’m so grateful I got to experience it for my last ride. Thank you God for giving me this new home, and thank you to my younger self for never giving up.
The Sharks will head back home to play their first game at the NSU Softball Stadium, taking on East Stroudsburg in a doubleheader on February 7th. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.