BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn University's softball team swept its doubleheader with Nova Southeastern in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, pulling away from the Sharks 9-0 in a five-inning run-ruled game before using a walk-off home run to win 6-4 in game two.  Prior to the start of the day, the Fighting Knights honored their three seniors: Geena Capitini, Amanda Casillas and Manya Lopez.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Game 1 – Lynn 9, Nova Southeastern 0 (5 innings); Game 2 – Lynn 6, Nova Southeastern 4
Records: Lynn (15-30-1, 4-16-1 SSC); Nova Southeastern (12-36, 2-22 SSC)
Location: Lynn Softball Field | Boca Raton, Fla.
All-Time Series: Lynn trails 25-42 (Last played Feb. 7, 2016)
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Game 1
  • An innocent two-out hit by pitch to Francais Olexa turned into a big opening first inning as two-batters later Leanne Wright smacked a three-run home run to put Lynn ahead 3-0.
  • The Fighting Knights did the rest of their damage in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs on six hits, three of which were for extra bases.
  • Kaitlin Conrad drove in the first run of the frame on a fielder's choice, driving in Manya Lopez, who opened the inning with a double.
  • Olexa made it 5-0 with a two-out double off the left field chalk and came around to score on Victoria Rios' single up the middle.
  • Leanne Wright knocked in her fourth run with a double off the center field wall and then scored off a bloop single from Amanda Casillas.
  • Geena Capitini added the final run to make it 9-0, when she doubled off the left field wall to plate Casillas.
• Game 2
  • Lynn opened up a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Rios singled up the middle to score Tauscher.
  • Olexa added to the Blue & White advantage in the third following a two-out double down the left field line to plate Vazquez from second base.
  • A pair of Fighting Knights errors on consecutive plays helped Nova Southeastern knot the game at 2-2 in the fourth but Capitini broke the tie with a solo home run in the home half of the frame.
  • Olexa gave Lynn a two-run cushion with her second RBI double of the game only to have Sophia Devesa tie the game again with a two-run double into the right centerfield gap.
  • Lightner had pitched solid until that point and was lifted for Olexa, who retired the last two batters.
  • In a thrilling final frame, Tauscher singled just through the right side with one out and moved to second following a Sara Vazquez sacrifice bunt.  Olexa stepped to the plate with two outs and belted the first pitch she saw over the fence in centerfield for the victory.

STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Game 1
  • Wright was 3-for-3 with two runs and four RBI, missing the cycle by a triple.
  • Rios went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI while Olexa was 1-for-2 with two runs and a RBI.
  • Capitini was 2-for-3 with a RBI.
  • Key (7-9) tossed five shutout innings of two-hit ball with a walk and strikeout. Key's counterpart, Dajia Jones (4-13) allowed nine runs on 12 hits over four innings.
  • NSU's hits came from Haley Gonzalez and Ashley Roe.
• Game 2
  • Olexa went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, a home run, one run scored and four RBI
  • In the circle, she tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless hitless relief to improve to 6-16 overall.
  • Hannah Tauscher also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored
  • Capitini capped off her final home game with a 2-for-3 outing with a home run, run scored and RBI.
  • Sara Vazquez was only 0-for-1 but tallied two sacrifice bunts
  • Rachel Lightner earned the start in the circle and allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits over 5.1 innings in the no-decision.
  • NSU starter Megan Granitto allowed six runs on 10 hits in 6.2 innings of work.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Key's victory was her first in conference play.
• This was also the first complete game shutout of the season for Key and the Fighting Knights.
• In addition, Lynn won via a run-rule for the first time this year.
• Olexa smacked her third career home run and first career walk-off home run.  Her four RBI is also a career-best.
• Tauscher's three hits and three runs scored are both career-highs.

ON DECK:
Lynn closes out the regular season on the road with a three-game series at Barry University beginning on Friday, April 29, at 6 p.m.  Fans can watch the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com.