WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 30, 2012) - The
17th ranked Tars (27-6, 8-2) showed every reason why
they have been ranked in the top 20 all season long in a dominant
effort Friday evening, taking game one of a three game set vs. the
Tritons of Eckerd College, 9-1, in run rule fashion.
After starter Hope Bitzer retired the Tritons in order in the top
of the first, Rollins jumped all over Eckerd starter Whitney
Bernier, scoring three runs on two hits in the bottom half of the
frame.
Junior Aimee Halpin reached on a free pass to open the
inning followed by sophomore Veronica Alred, who was hit with a pitch, to put
runners on first and second, bringing up senior Monica Meadows with nobody out.
Meadows laced the Bernier offering through the right side of the
infield and it rolled all the way to the fence, allowing Meadows to
cruise in with the double, scoring Halpin and advancing Alred to
third.
Senior Krista Rodden followed the Meadows double with a hit
of her own, sending a line drive up the middle to score Alred and
move Meadows to third.
With runners on the corners, Rodden purposely caught herself in
a run-down between first and second, allowing Meadows to swipe home
for the Tars' third run of the inning to take the 3-0 lead after
one.
Rollins would add three more in the second, one in the fifth and
one in the sixth.
The run in the sixth coming on a solo shot off of the bat of
Meadows. The play was at first called a triple, as left fielder
Taylor Styke scaled the fence down the left field line with the
ball falling just over her glove and caromed back into the field of
play. It was unclear whether the ball caught the top of the wall or
if it ricocheted off of the foul pole just over the fence.
After an umpire meeting, it was ruled that the ball did indeed
hit the bottom half of the foul pole, which by rule is a home run,
allowing Meadows to jog home and score to extend the deficit to
eight runs, 9-1, ending the game in a run rule in just over five
and half innings of play.
The home run was Meadows' fourth on the year, tying her with
fellow seniors Bitzer and Lawna Hunter for the team lead. Including her long
fly, Meadows went 2-3 on the night with three RBI and two runs
scored, raising her average to .387.
The Tritons lone run came in the fifth when Eckerd executed a
similar play that Rollins performed to perfection in the first, a
double steal attempt with runners on the corners. Julie Bierchen
took off from first, drawing the throw from Tars catcher Alred,
allowing Styke to scamper home to score the Tritons only run of the
evening.
Freshman Taylor McGowan (5-0) earned the win as she came on in
relief of Bitzer in the fourth. McGowan went three innings, giving
up one unearned run on two hits.
Bernier (3-8) suffered the loss for Eckerd, going just one
inning, giving up three runs on two hits while striking out
one.
The Tars finish off the three game series tomorrow, Sat. Mar.
31, with a double header. Game one is set for 1 pm with game two to
follow at approximately 3 pm. Fans can follow all the action live
on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com.
