VALDOSTA, Ga. (May 19, 2021) – The Rollins Tars had a rough start to their first NCAA Regional in five years, dropping their first game against West Florida by a score of 2-1.
Head coach
Michelle Frew selected
Ashley Worrell to start the game versus the Argonauts. Things did not go as planned as Worrell walked the first two batters of the game. The third batter of the game slapped a grounder to short, but was able to beat out the throw to first to avoid the double play. A single from Ally Merrill in the next at bat scored Teala Howard to make it 1-0. After an infield single loaded the bases, Worrell was able to get the next hitter to chop weakly back to the circle. Worrell fielded the ball cleanly and fired home, but the ball was dropped by the catcher, allowing a second run to score. A pitching change was made, and
Ali Shenefield struck out the next two hitters to limit any further damage.
The Tars had the tough task of facing Kelsey Sweatt, the ace of the West Florida staff who was named 2
nd-team All-Region earlier in the week. Rollins could not get anything going through the first two innings. Their best chance came in the third when
Chelsea Peace was at the plate with runners on second and third and two out. An eight pitch at-bat ensued, culminating with a strikeout.
For the next three innings, Shenefield and Sweatt traded scoreless frames. At one point, Shenefield retired eleven in a row before hitting a batter in the seventh. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Tars still trailed 2-0. After a pair of quick outs,
Raiven Bryant gave the Tars a spark of hope by launching her third home run of the season over the center field fence to make it a one-run game. Unfortunately for the Tars, Sweatt was able to strike out the next hitter to end the game.
Shenefield was phenomenal in her relief effort. Her final line read 6.2 innings, two hits, zero runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. Sweatt took the win with seven innings of work while scattering a pair of hits and striking out six.
The South Regional is a double elimination format. Rollins will play the loser of Alabama Huntsville-Mississippi College tonight at 6:00 pm in the first elimination game. West Florida advances to play #1 seed Auburn Montgomery on Thursday.
