WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 29, 2025) - The Rollins College Tars were back in action Saturday afternoon for two games with Florida Tech. The Tars used a fast start to pounce on the Panthers in game one, winning 8-1. In game two, the script was flipped as Florida Tech grabbed an early lead, the Tars chipped away, but couldn't quite overcome the deficit, and fell in game two, 5-3. The doubleheader split means a series loss for the Tars for just the first time at home all season.
Game One
Emily MacMullen returned to the circle seeking her second consecutive conference win, and she would not be denied. MacMullen was masterful, carving her way through the Florida Tech offense on her way to a complete game – her longest outing of the season. The performance did not come without some bumps and bruises, but the senior navigated her way through trouble, stranding five Florida Tech Panthers through the first three innings.
Run support came quickly with one swing of the bat by
Kaeli Zahradnik in the bottom of the second. Following singles by
Jaden Walker and
Cambrie Todd, Zahradnik stepped up to the dish with bad intentions – hammering a ball to left to put the Tars ahead, 3-0. The three-run blast makes it two straight weekends with a dinger for Zahradnik.
The heart of the order came through again one inning later. After consecutive singles by
Madi Carr and
Jaden Walker,
Brooke Theisen delivered, doubling to score Carr to increase the Rollins lead to 4-0.
The score remained stationary until the top of the fifth when Florida Tech got on the board by way of an RBI single. Still, MacMullen showed her experience, remaining cool, calm, and collected to leave the bases juiced and mitigate the damage.
Rollins broke the game open in the bottom half, scoring four runs off four hits, highlighted by a
Cambrie Todd two-RBI double. Aggressiveness on the basepaths later induced two more runs thanks to a throwing error on a Zahradnik steal attempt.
Jenna Borkey scored easily from third on the same play, while Zahradnik dashed around the bases to score as well with the benefit of another error by the Tech center fielder. When it was all said and done, the Tars had jumped out to a commanding 8-1 lead.
MacMullen cruised through the final two frames and got the final out with the help of
Grace Germer, whose web gem diving catch was so impressive that it caught Florida Tech by surprise. Germer was able to double-up the runner, who had started on second base and was sprinting around expecting the ball to drop. The play wowed the crowd and sealed an 8-1 victory for the Tars.
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Game Two
The script was flipped on the Tars in game two as this time it was Florida Tech doing the damage in the early innings. After two quick outs to begin
Camila Leon-Blanco's outing, an error extended the frame, and the Panthers took full advantage. Consecutive two-out singles brought home two runs and gave Tech the early advantage.
After the Tars went down quietly in their first chances at the dish, Florida Tech tacked on another run, again singling with two outs to bring the lead to 3-0.
The game remained put until the bottom of the third when the Tars said, enough with these two out hits by Florida Tech, it's our turn! Bri Perantoni and
Brie Michelli each extended the inning with singles, with Perantoni's inducing an RBI. Later, Carr put the ball in play and nifty baserunning scored another run to pull the Tars even closer, making the score 3-2.
Florida Tech answered right back, though with an RBI triple in the fourth. The Panthers padded the lead again one inning later off the bat of Miranda Shaw. Shaw's homerun gave the Panthers a 5-2 lead, where it would stay until the bottom half of the sixth.
Claire Long came up with a two-out double to extend what looked like a fruitless inning, paving the way for another RBI by Zahradnik, who had a pair in game one. Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Tars would get, falling 5-3 in Saturday's finale.
Despite the loss,
Grace Germer added two more web gems to her trophy case, including an amazing grab to prevent a leadoff double in the top of the seventh.
The loss drops Rollins to 22-10 on the season and 11-7 in Sunshine State Conference play. The Tars hit the road next weekend, traveling to Miami Shores to take on Barry for a three-game set. First pitch of the series will take place on Friday night at 7pm.
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