WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 13, 2015) The
fifteenth-ranked Rollins softball team came out on the wrong side
of pitching duel Friday night, falling to Tampa 3-1 at MLK Park.
The staff aces, Niki
Fogle and Tampa's Julia Morrow, combined to allow four runs on
nine hits in the contest while striking out 18 batters.
Tampa improves to 15-7 (3-4 SSC) while Rollins drops to 19-2
(5-2 SSC).
Junior Jule
Kranz led off the third inning with a single to right field
then was advanced to second on Rose
Stevens' sac bunt. Hailee
Keisling came through with her second hit of the night, a
sharply hit single that was barely knocked down by the second
baseman. Kranz saw the opportunity to score on the infield hit and
slid in safely under the tag at the plate to give the Tars a 1-0
advantage.
Rollins went on to load the bases with one out in the third but
two consecutive strikeouts by Morrow ended the danger for the
Spartans.
Tampa responded to the deficit in the fourth inning, loading the
bases then tying the game at 1-1 on an RBI hit-by-pitch. The
Spartans took the lead for good on a two-run double by left fielder
Jenna Halper. The only extra-base hit of the game for either team
proved to be the winner as Tampa preserved the 3-1 victory.
Julia Morrow (W, 12-3) notched the win by scattering six hits
over seven innings, allowing just the one run while striking out 11
Tars.
Niki
Fogle (L, 14-2) is tagged with only her second loss of the
season after holding the Spartans to three runs on three hits (two
earned). The junior walked a trio and struck out seven.
Sophomore Hailee
Keisling had a solid night against one of the premier pitchers
in the nation, going 3-4 with an RBI. The catcher also stole her
fourth base of the year in the contest.
Rollins and Tampa will continue the series tomorrow in Winter
Park with a doubleheader starting at 1.
