MELBOURNE, Fla. (March 23, 2024) - Softball extended their win streak to eight games, and now stand at 27-6 overall (11-4 SSC), with a doubleheader sweep of Florida Tech on Saturday. The Panthers fall to 18-16, 7-11 SSC.
Game One
Rollins 3, Florida Tech 1
The Tars started the day with another gem from
Ashley Worrell in the circle. She and Alex Hendrian were locked in to a pitcher's duel for the first three innings, but Rollins broke through in the fourth. A pair of singles put Worrell on second base, and she was brought in with a double from
Sarah Young to make it 1-0.
The lead would extend to 2-0 when
Brie Michelli launched a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning.
Florida Tech was able to split the lead in half with an assist from a two-out error from Rollins that scored a run. The Tars would et the run back in their final at bat when
Claire Long singled home Michelli.
Worrell then set the Panthers down in order in the seventh to complete the game. Her final line read seven innings, three hits (all singles), one unearned run, and seven strikeouts. Long tallied three hits to lead the offense.
Game Two
Rollins 6, Florida Tech 5
The Tars jumped out to a big lead in game two. Worrell led off the second inning with a solo home run, and six batters later,
Grace Germer ripped a single to score
Sarah Young. With the bases loaded,
Taylor Waters then cleared them with a double to the right center gap, making it a 5-0 game.
Things would stay that way until the fifth when Kaehli Zahradnik tripled to right field, bringing home Young.
Emily MacMullen had been dealing for five innings, and in the sixth she passed the ball to
Keivana Durand. A home run, three walks, and a two-out double plated four runs for the home team, making it 6-4.
Reese Twiggs was called on to finish things out in the seventh. The Panthers would score once more on a single and a double, but Twiggs was able to lock in for the final two outs and preserve the 6-5 win for the save.
These two teams will meet once more on Sunday to complete the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm from Melbourne.
