Tars Take Series from Buccaneers

WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 29, 2024) - Softball clinched another SSC series, defeating the Barry Buccaneers for the second time in three tries on Friday afternoon. With the win, Rollins moves to 29-8 on the year with a 12-6 mark in SSC play. Barry moves to 28-12, 13-5 SSC.

The first four innings of the game were the definition of a pitcher's duel as Ashley Worrell and Samantha Rosenberger were locked in. The teams combined for just four hits, all singles, and no runs were scored. 

The top of the fifth saw a roller coaster of emotion as Barry looked to take the first lead of the game on a triple from Brooklyn Rushton. However, the field umpire deemed that Taylor Thompson left the bag too early, erasing the run from the board. Barry would not score in the inning. 

With new life, the Tars exploded in the bottom half of the inning for four runs. A pair of singles and a sac bunt fielder's choice loaded the bases with no outs. After a pitching change, Grace Germer brought in Kaehli Zahradnik with a sac fly. After a second out, Brie Michelli smoked a ball down the left field line for a double, scoring two more. After an intentional walk to the dangerous Worrell, Sarah Young stepped up and dribbled a ball to second base. The throw got away from the fielder, allowing Michelli to come around and score the fourth run of the inning. 

The Bucs got one back in the top of the sixth on an infield single, but they would leave two runners on base after another wild play. Mac Stone-Folmar singled to right with two runners on, and it looked like Becka Mellor would score easily. However, the throw from the outfield was cutoff by Maddie Degnan, and she was able to tag Stone-Folmar after she rounded first base too strongly before the runner touched home, ending the inning. 

Rollins scored the final run of the game in the sixth when Germer doubled to left center to plate Degnan, who had reached on a single. 

Keivana Durand fired a 1-2-3 seventh to end the game. 

Germer and Michelli each had two hits and two RBI to lead the offense. Worrell picked up her 15th win of the year with 5.2 innings of work, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts. 

Next up for Rollins is a massive road series at #4 Tampa. First pitch on Friday, April 5 is scheduled for 6:00 pm.