WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 17, 2012) - After
falling behind early, the 14th ranked Tars (35-7, 16-3)
fought back with runs in the sixth and seventh to escape with a win
over the Panthers of Florida Tech (24-25, 10-12) Tuesday afternoon,
2-1.
After Rollins went down in order in the top of the first, the
Panthers drew first blood in the bottom of the inning on a RBI
double from three batter Lauren Cole.
Tars' starter Hope Bitzer had some trouble finding her release
point out of the gates, walking leadoff batter Brianna Barth,
Bitzer's opposition in the circle for the Panthers, to open the
game. Barth was then sacrificed to second before she came around to
score on the Cole double.
Rollins would threaten in the third as senior Meredith Foster led off the inning with a single to
right center, which also broke up Barth's perfect game bid, and
then moved to second on a sacrifice by sophomore Amye McIntyre.
After Barth sat Hilary Brown down swinging for out number two, junior
Aimee Halpin singled to put runners on first and
third with two outs.
After Halpin stole second, sophomore Veronica Alred followed with a walk to load the
bases. But Barth was able to get senior Monica Meadows swinging to end the threat.
Meadows would avenge the bases loaded strikeout in the sixth.
The Daphne, Ala. native drove a Barth fastball the opposite way to
lead off the inning, just over the fence in right to tie the score,
1-1. It was Meadows' team leading ninth home run of the season.
The Panthers looked to answer in the bottom half of the inning
but Bitzer was able to pitch herself out of the two on and nobody
out jam to head to the seventh with the score still tied, 1-1.
It was again Foster who started the Tars rally in the seventh,
reaching on an error and was even able to take second on the play
as the ball trickled far enough away from first baseman Emily
Densem for Foster to take second standing up.
After McIntyre sacrificed Foster to third, it was Brown's turn
to avenge the early strikeout as the sophomore laced a lined drive
in the gap in left center to plate Foster to give Rollins their
first lead of the afternoon, 2-1.
The lead would hold as Bitzer (19-3) sat down the Panthers in
order in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win. Bitzer gave up
just the one run while scattering five hits in her 17th
complete game of the season.
Barth (11-14) gave up two runs, one earned, in the complete game
loss while striking out seven.
The Tars will finish up the three game series with the Panthers
in a double header Wednesday afternoon with game one scheduled for
2 pm. Fans can follow along on the Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.com.
