BOCA RATON, Fla. – Three first inning runs proved to be enough on Saturday afternoon as the Lynn University softball team held on late to take the first Sunshine State Conference game of the season over Nova Southeastern, 4-2. Kayla Sheffield went the distance in the circle, while Victoria Rios tallied a two-hit day with a pair of runs batted in and a run scored.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lynn 4, Nova Southeastern 2
Records: Lynn (7-4, 1-0 SSC), Florida Southern (3-8, 0-1 SSC)
Location: Lynn Softball Field | Boca Raton, Fla.
All-time Series: NSU leads, 45-26-1 (Nova swept three-game series in 2017)
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STATS OF THE GAME:

• Rios was the only Fighting Knight with a multi-hit game, accounting for two of the team's five hits and both of the squad's RBIs.
• Sheffield picked up her second win of the season, tossing an efficient complete game with just 79 pitches while scattering seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Both runs allowed were earned.
• Britney Purser showcased her stout defense at third base, racking up a game-high four assists with a putout.
• Shayle Arenson, Karolina Flores and Erin Sundook collected the team's other three hits on the day, with the 2-3-4 hitters Arenson, Flores and Rios scoring all four of the team's runs.
• NSU's Lexie Storrer shouldered the loss, tossing all 6.0 innings for the Sharks while allowing five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Only two of the four runs charged to her were earned.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The game was the third multi-hit game of the season for Rios, tying her with Flores for a team-high three two-hit games. She is also riding a season-best six-game hitting streak.
• Francais Olexa has reached base in all 11 games this season, the only Lynn player to do so.
• Lynn is 6-0 this season when scoring four or more runs, as the team has yet to allow an opponent to score more than three runs.
• The Fighting Knights' pitching staff boasts a conference-best ERA thus far, sitting more than half a run better than the Embry-Riddle at 1.42.

UP NEXT:

Lynn and Nova Southeastern take to the diamond once again on Sunday afternoon when they square off in an SSC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is slated for noon at the Lynn Softball Field.