Errors Prove Costly in Loss

Tars Unable to Overcome Mistakes, Fall in Opener to Panthers
 
WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 28, 2025) –The Rollins College softball team returned to action Friday as conference foe Florida Tech paid a visit to Winter Park. After jumping out to an early lead, the Tars saw the advantage slip through the cracks and were unable to rally, falling to the Panthers 6-4 while dropping to 21-9 on the year. 
 
The Tars came out swinging to open the series with four of the first five batters reaching base. After Rollins' starter Reese Twiggs worked a clean top of the first, Bri Perantoni picked up right where she's left off the entire season, singling despite a two-strike count. Brooke Theisen followed suit, and cleanup Jaden Walker did her job, loading the bases with one out for Brie Michelli. The team's leader in doubles added one more to her tab, finding the gap in right-center to bring around Perantoni and Theisen. The Tars tacked on one more in the form of a Marisa Edevane sacrifice fly, which scored Walker and increased the lead to 3-0.
 
Both teams went quietly in the second inning, but trouble came around in the top of the third. The Tars beat themselves with three errors in the frame, saw six Panthers cross the plate. The scoring spree was highlighted by a grand slam from Florida Tech's Chloe Fariel, her first homerun in her collegiate career.
 
Following the big inning, the Tars found themselves in a 6-3 hole, one that they ultimately could not dig themselves out of. Although, after Twiggs exited in the top of the fourth, Rachel Matthiesen was brilliant in relief. The freshman went 3.2 innings, allowing just three hits while walking one and striking out two. The scoreless effort was good enough to keep the Tars within striking distance, but Rollins wasn't quite able to get over the hump.
 
Michelli provided some life in the bottom of the fourth, supplying a lead-off double. The two-bagger was the seniors' second of the game and tenth on the season. Still, the Tars could not bring her around.
 
In the sixth, the Tars pulled a little closer thanks to an Edevane RBI single, but consecutive fielder's choice putouts ended the potential threat of a big inning.
 
The Tars went down in order in the seventh to end the game and fall by a final score of 6-4. Tomorrow, the two teams will meet again, this time playing twice. First pitch of Saturday's double header will take place at 1pm.