Van Gennep's No-Hitter, Shere's Walk-Off Lead Eckerd to Victory Over Lynn

Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - In the series opener between the Eckerd and Lynn softball teams, pitching was the story for 6-2/3 innings.

But with one swing of the bat, the story had a twist in its conclusion.

Nikole Van Gennep threw a no-hitter while Carrie Shere ended a no-hit bid by Lynn's Francais Olexa with a two-out, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh as the Tritons won the weekend series opener over the Fighting Knights, 1-0.

The pitchers' duel between Van Gennep and Olexa carried throughout the night as both took no-hitters into the seventh.

Van Gennep retired the side in order in the top of the inning and Olexa coaxed a pair of pop-ups in the bottom of the frame before Shere came to the plate.  The junior took the first pitch outside, then blasted the 1-0 delivery high over the left field fence for the game-winner for Eckerd (14-24, 3-10 SSC).

It was a fitting end to a game that had previously been defined by pitching and defense from both teams.

Van Gennep (9-14) only ran into trouble in the first inning after issuing walks to the first two batters, but she escaped with three straight grounders that forced out the lead runners at third.  She had little trouble the rest of the way, retiring the last nine batters she faced.  She also received outstanding support from her defense, particularly Chelsea Armstrong and Crystal Garcia who combined to make several stellar plays on the left side of the infield.

Olexa, meanwhile, proved to be Van Gennep's equal until the final batter.  Olexa - who ranks second in the conference in ERA - allowed only three baserunners in the first six innings, two via walk and one via error.

But her first hit surrendered was a big one as the Tritons earned their second walk-off victory at home to open an SSC series and fifth in a row over Lynn (20-14, 7-6 SSC).  Two weeks ago, Rachael Luckett delivered a walk-off double in a victory over Rollins.

Van Gennep walked three and struck out four in pitching the first no-hitter of her career at Eckerd.  Last season, she flirted with one at Southeastern (Fla.) before allowing an infield single in the fifth for the only hit of the game.

The two teams finish the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.