AMERICAS, Ga. (February 9, 2013) - In a day
where runs were tough to come by, Rollins (9-1) left the Georgia
Southwestern (5-3) campus with a split of Saturday's doubleheader,
dropping game one 3-2 before stealing game two on the other side of
a 3-2 decision.
In game one, hits weren't an issue for the Tars, recording at
least one in each of the seven innings; it was stringing a couple
together that proved to be problematic.
Rollins first fell behind in the second when Ashley Clifton led
off the inning with a solo homerun to center.
But Rollins starter Stephanie Sullivan kept the Tars in it through five,
surrendering just the lone one while allowing just three hits.
The Tars then seized control in the sixth. With two outs and
runners on second and third, freshman Brittany Johnson was called upon to pinch-hit.
Johnson answered the call, sending a line drive over second baseman
Mason Moreland's head and into right field, driving in two to give
Rollins the 2-1 lead.
The one run lead would hold heading to the Hurricanes' half of
the seventh. Sullivan retired the first two GSW batters when
Clifton lined out before Avery Purser flew out to center.
With two outs and the bases empty, the 'Canes managed
back-to-back singles, knocking Sullivan out of the game, before
Shelley Sweatt drew a walk from new Tars pitcher Niki Fogle to load the bases.
Kiley Doster then worked the count full before delivering the
walk off single to left field, scoring two to give GSW the win,
3-2.
Sullivan (4-1) was credited with the loss, giving up three runs
in 6.2 innings of work.
Three Tars recorded multi-hit games in game one with senior Hannah Lovestrand leading the way, going 3-4
while both Veronica Alred and Jessica Gipson chipped in with two hits apiece.
Rollins found themselves behind early once again in game two.
The 'Canes once again scored one in the second on a one out RBI
single up the middle by Rachel McElroy.
GSW starter Erin Vick held the Tars at bay for the most part
until the fifth. Senior Aimee Halpin led off the inning with a bunt single
before Lovestrand was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and
second with nobody out.
That brought up Rollins' second leading hitter, Kristie Hoeffer. Hoeffer delivered a double off the
base of wall in center, scoring Halpin but Lovestrand was cut down
at home trying to score. Also on the play, Hoeffer tried to take
third on the throw home and was gunned down for out number two,
ultimately putting an end to the Tars' threat of a big inning.
It wasn't long until GSW regained the lead, scoring one in their
half of the fifth, sending the game to the sixth with Rollins down,
2-1.
The Tars would load the bases in the sixth, bringing up Halpin
with two outs. Halpin would deliver, ripping a line drive up the
middle that rolled all the way to the fence to score two, give
Rollins a 3-2 lead that they would not relinquish.
Fogle (4-0) earned the win in game two, giving up two runs on
five hits with striking out seven in seven innings pitched.
Halpin went 2-4 in game two with a pair of RBI and a run
scored.
Rollins ends their Georgia trip with a double header on Sunday
at Fort Valley State. Game one is set to start at 1pm with game two
to follow at approximately 3pm. Fans can follow along with all the
action live on the Tars Sports Network on RollinsSports.com
