MELBOURNE, Fla. (March 20, 2016) - The Rollins
College softball team split a doubleheader with No. 24 Florida Tech
on Sunday after game one was suspended on Saturday due to inclement
weather. The Tars took game one 6-4 before eventually falling in
game two by a score of 9-6. Rollins takes the pivotal series from
No. 24 Florida Tech as they go 2-1 on the weekend.
Rollins moves to 20-6-1 (7-2 SSC) on the year while Florida Tech
sits at 26-11 (6-3 SSC) this season.
Hailee
Keisling got things started in game one with a lead off single
up the middle. The junior helped the Tars grabbed the early 1-0
lead after an interference call in the top of the first allowed her
to score from third.
The Panthers answered in the bottom half of the inning as Nicole
Shinsky smacked a two-run home run to center field to give Florida
Tech the 2-1 lead.
The bats were quiet over the next two innings until the Tars
were able to score four runs with two outs in the top of the fourth
to regain a 5-2 lead. Keisling started the scoring after an error
by the center fielder. Tiffany
Osmanski singled to left field scoring Jule
Kranz from second to give the Tars the lead. Osmanski advanced
to second after a wild pitch and that is all Chelsea
Reed needed, as the senior doubled down the left field line to
score Osmanski. Next batter, Brittany
Johnson, collected an RBI as the All-American Watchlist player
singled to second base driving home Reed.
Florida Tech used small ball to get two runs in the bottom of
the fourth, but Niki
Fogle was able to get out of a bases loaded jam to maintain the
Tars lead. Rollins collected an insurance run in the top of the
fifth after Hannah
Horwath scored off a Kranz single to left field to put the Tars
up 6-4.
The game was suspended in the bottom half of the fifth due to
inclement weather and was resumed Sunday morning. The Panthers
threatened with a bases loaded situation in the sixth, but Fogle
was able to strike out Krista Patterson to end the inning and
eventually secure the victory.
Fogle goes to 12-5 on the year as the White House, Tenn. native
allowed four hits, two runs, three walks and struck out four.
Game two saw Rollins take the early lead once again as Courtney
Durbin singled to right center with bases loaded scoring Kranz
and Keisling. That lead would be short lived as the Panthers put up
four runs in the bottom of the first as Emily York hit a 3-run
double off of Freshman Erin
Fortney.
Florida Tech had another big inning as the Panthers used small
ball along with a triple by Kaitlin Buchholz to increase their lead
to 9-2 in the bottom of the third.
The Tars started chipping away as Keisling collected an RBI
single in the fourth before Brianne
Lint hit a two-run single to left field in the fifth to cut the
Panther lead to 9-5. Next batter, Sid
Masso singled through the left side to score Durbin, but that
would be it as the Panthers went on to secure the 9-6 win.
Fortney is credited with the loss in a game that saw four
pitchers for the Tars. The freshman goes to 1-1 on the year as she
allowed four hits, four runs, and one walk in one inning of work.
Keisling went 6-of-9 at the plate during the doubleheader scoring
three runs and collecting one RBI.
There will be little rest for Rollins as the Tars will be back
in action tomorrow night against Merrimack College. Game one of the
doubleheader is slated to begin at 6 p.m. For the latest news,
updates, and information on the Rollins softball team, fans can
visit RollinsSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the
latest #TARnation news by following Rollins Sports on Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram.
