TAMPA, Fla. (April 6, 2024) - Softball had a pair of competitive efforts against #3 Tampa on Saturday, but ultimately fell one run short in each extra-inning contest. The Tars move to 30-10 on the season with a 13-8 record in SSC play.
Game One
Tampa 1, Rollins 0 (9 innings)
The textbook definition of a pitcher's duel took place in the first game of the day as Emily MacMulllen and Mariah Galhouse were both dealing from the circle. No runner made it past second base on either side for the first eight innings of the game.
Tampa threatened in the home half of the eighth with runners on first and second and no one out. MacMullen was able to induce a strikeout, pop out, and line out to the next three hitters to keep the score nil-nil.
Rollins went down in order in the ninth, but Tampa did not. A leadoff single, a sac bunt, and a single from Galhouse drove in the game-winning run.
MacMullen suffered the loss despite an impressive line of 8.1 innings, six hits, ,one run, one walk, and five strikeouts. Galhouse took home the win with nine shutout innings and ten strikeouts.
Game Two
Tampa 3, Rollins 2 (10 innings)
There was a little more action in the nightcap, but it was still a thriller. Tampa got the scoring going in the third, scoring on an error after a triple from Lauren Cantone.
The Tars were able to answer back in their next at bat.
Brie Michelli go on base thanks to an error. Three batters later,
Claire Long punched a ball into left field. With Michelli running on the play, she was able to score, but Long was thrown out to end the inning.
Rollins then took their first lead of the day in the fifth. With two outs,, Kaehli Zahradnik singled to center. Next up was
Grace Germer who sent a ball to left for a single. It was misplayed by the Spartan fielder, allowing Zahradnik to come all the way around and find the plate. Germer made it to third on the play, but would end up stranded.
Tampa was able to tie the game in the sixth when an infield single scored a runner from second base to make it 2-2.
Rollins threatened in the seventh with two on and two out, but could not convert. The offense sputtered from there as they went down in order in each of the eighth, ninth, and tenth innings. The Spartans then claimed victory with a walk and an RBI double in the bottom of the tenth.
Next up for the Tars is a home series against Eckerd. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday, April 12.
