Pitcher's Duel Goes the Way of the Spartans

WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 11, 2025) Fresh off a road sweep in conference play, the Tars returned to Winter Park looking to seize the momentum against #2 Tampa. Emily MacMullen was phenomenal in the circle yet again, but two solo homeruns by the Spartans made the difference in their narrow 2-1 win Friday night.
 
MacMullen earned her second consecutive Friday night start, entering the circle following an outstanding series at Barry last weekend. The senior pitched 16 innings in Miami Shores, going the distance twice, which included an extra inning effort, and allowing just three earned runs across both outings. Friday night's start got off to a rocky start, though, as Tampa's Lauren Fanto homered to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead just three pitches into the contest.
 
MacMullen continued to labor in the first, walking the bases loaded with two outs, but the senior buckled down and stranded the bases juiced.
 
The southpaw was right back out there for the second after the Tars went down in order, but this time the inning was much smoother. MacMullen sat down the Spartans 1-2-3 in the frame which included back-to-back strikeouts to begin the stanza. The quick inning would be a sign of things to come.
 
Rollins picked up their first hit in the bottom of the second with a two-out single by Cambrie Todd, but that would be all the offense could muster.
 
Another three up, three down frame worked by MacMullen appeared to give the Tars some momentum heading into the bottom of the third. With one away, Grace Germer reached on an error and Bri Perantoni continued to swing a hot bat, singling to put two aboard. Unfortunately, the scoring chance would end there as a 5-3 double play spoiled the inning.
 
Tampa converted their stout defense into offense, leading off the fourth with another solo jack to double their lead. Still, MacMullen was able to settle down and limit the damage, sitting down the next three Spartans in order.
 
Nothing was doing for Rollins in the fourth, but MacMullen continued to provide a spark from the circle. She struck out the side in the fifth, firing up the Rollins dugout. This time, the momentum paid dividends, leading to a Jenna Borkey single with one out. After Borkey stole second and advanced to third with a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Kaeli Zahradnik, Grace Germer stepped up to the plate with a chance to cut into the Tampa lead. The graduate student did just that, finding a hole through the left side to make the score 2-1.
 
Both teams went quietly once more in the sixth and MacMullen returned to the circle for the seventh seeking her fourth straight outing of at least seven innings pitched. Three batters later, MacMullen achieved the feat, racking up strikeout number ten and eleven of the evening. The stellar performance was the first time MacMullen reached double digit Ks in her four-year career.
 
Needing just one run to extend the game and two to win it, Rollins was right on the doorstep of an upset, but impressive defense in the seventh kept the Tars at a distance, including a diving catch in center field on the final play of the game that sealed a 2-1 victory for the Spartans. Tampa's Gwen McGinnis picked up the win, her team-leading 13th of the season, propelling the Spartans to 34-3 on the year.
 
The two teams will meet for a double-header tomorrow, with first pitch of game one taking place at 12pm. The seniors will be honored following game two as tomorrow wraps up the home slate for the Tars. Be sure to check out the action as Rollins looks to bounce back in a battle of two of the SSC's best.