DECATUR, Ala. (February 17, 2012)- The
11th ranked Rollins softball team appeared to still be
recovering from the 11 hour bus ride it took on Thursday in day one
of the 2012 Charger Chillout, hosted by the University of
Alabama-Huntsville, as they dropped both games Friday afternoon,
4-2 and 1-0 respectively.
In game one, the Tars took on the unranked Greyhounds of the
University of Indianapolis. Reigning Sunshine State Conference
Player of the Week Hope Bitzer got the start in the circle for Rollins
looking for her third straight victory.
The Greyhounds drew first blood early on an RBI double in the
top of the first from center fielder Jennifer DeMotte after left
fielder Casey Williamson led off the game with a walk.
Indianapolis would add two more to their lead in the third. The
Greyhounds led off the inning with back to back singles from Alexa
Alfaro and Cori Eckerle and then loaded the bases on a walk to
Dakota Malayer. Bitzer then struck out the next two Indianapolis
hitters to bring up first baseman Taylor Russell. Russell then
laced a single through the left side plating Alfaro and Eckerle to
make it 3-0 Greyhounds.
After a scoreless third from the Tars, DeMotte hit her second
RBI double of the game in the top of the fourth, scoring Williamson
all the way from first after she had reached on an error, extending
the lead to 4-0.
Rollins finally joined the party in their half of the fourth on
a two run tape measure blast from senior right fielder Lawna Hunter that scored Veronica Alred after Alred
reached to open the inning on an error.
Rollins threatened again in the seventh after a Tara Turner pinch hit walk and a Monica Meadows single brought up Bitzer with runners
on first and second with two outs. But DeMotte, who came in to
pitch in the third, got Bitzer to ground to shortstop Krysta
Bradford who went to third to force out Hannah Lovestrand after
Lovestrand re-entered to run for Turner to end the threat and the
game.
Bitzer (3-2) was credited with the loss as she went the full
seven innings giving up four runs, three earned, on ten hits while
striking out 12. DeMotte (2-0) got the win for Greyhounds pitching
five innings in relief giving up two runs, one earned, on three
hits.
In game two, the No. 11 Tars took on the No. 3 Saints of North
Georgia. Sophomore Amye McIntyre squared off against Saints pitcher
Jessica Coan in what turned out to be a pitcher's duel.
Both pitchers went back and forth all game long with neither
team mounting much of a threat until the Saints half of the sixth.
Freshman Rochelle Shuman led off the inning with a walk and
advanced to second base on a McIntyre wild pitch. McIntyre retired
the next two North Georgia batters, on a fly out and a strike out
respectively. After Shuman had advanced to third on a passed ball
in the previous at bat, first baseman Katherine Martin came to the
plate with two outs and a runner on third.
Martin ripped a ground ball towards third that took a tough hop
that third baseman Hilary Brown couldn't handle, allowing Shuman to
score from third to give the Saints a 1-0 lead heading into the
seventh.
The Tars refused to go without a fight putting runners on first
and second in the top of the inning but couldn't come up with the
big hit as Turner was forced out at third to end the game.
McIntyre (2-1) went six innings in the loss giving up one run,
zero earned, on two hits and three walks. Coan (5-0) picked up here
fifth win of the season going the distance for North Georgia giving
up no runs on just four hits while striking out nine.
Rollins will be back in action Saturday, February
18th in game three of the Charger Chillout against
Georgia College & State University with first pitch slated for
9:30am. Fans can follow all the action live on the Tars Sports
Network at RollinsSports.com.
