ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Rollins softball opened the 2026 season with a pair of road wins at Flagler on Friday, taking game one 6-1 before securing a 5-1 victory in game two.
The home Saints struck first after a scoreless top of the first for the Tars, plating one run on a single and small-ball execution.
Cambrie Todd recorded the first hit of the season for Rollins with a single to left, but the Tars were unable to capitalize, finishing the frame with a lineout, strikeout, and fielder's choice. Rollins' defense remained steady in the bottom half despite an error, stranding the runner and keeping the deficit at one.
Claire Long reached to start the third after being hit by a pitch and moved to second following an error on contact from
Makayla Layton. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position before
Jenna Borkey drew a walk to load the bases. The Saints escaped the jam, cutting down the lead runner at home on a fielder's choice before a strikeout ended the threat and kept Flagler ahead 1-0. Rollins held defensively in the bottom of the inning, allowing just a single while recording outs via pop-up, flyout, and groundout.
The Tars seized momentum in the fourth.
Brooke Theisen led off with a single, followed by a walk from
Kaeli Zahradnik. Long then reached to load the bases with one out. Layton put the ball in play and reached on an error, allowing Theisen to score and even the game while keeping the bases loaded. An RBI single from
Brianna Perantoni brought home Zahradnik to give Rollins its first lead of the day. Another walk, this time to Borkey, scored Long to extend the advantage. After a strikeout for the second out, Rachel Mathhiesen delivered the biggest swing of the inning, clearing the bases with a double to push the Tars ahead 6-1.
Rollins retired Flagler in order in the fourth and carried the lead into the fifth.
Marisa Edevane opened with a single to left, later advancing into scoring position, but the Saints recorded the final outs to hold the score. Flagler placed two runners aboard in the bottom half via a walk and a single, but Rollins' defense again held firm. After a scoreless sixth, Edevane doubled in the seventh to put another runner in scoring position. The Saints held in the inning but were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom half as Rollins secured the 6-1 game one win.
Game two opened with a leadoff hit from Perantoni, who advanced to second on a bunt from Borkey. A flyout moved her to third, and Todd reached after being hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, but a lineout ended the inning scoreless. Flagler threatened in the bottom of the first after a hit by pitch and a walk put two runners aboard, but a pop-up ended the frame.
After two quick outs in the second, Golas doubled to center to give Rollins a late threat, but was left stranded. In the bottom half,
Camila Leon-Blanco responded to an opening walk by striking out the next three hitters to end the inning.
Perantoni opened the third with her second hit of the game and quickly moved into scoring position, eventually advancing to third on a tag-up. Carr drove her in with contact to second base to give Rollins a 1-0 lead. Flagler answered in the bottom half with back-to-back hits, tying the game at 1-1 on a double down the right-field line.
Rollins responded immediately in the fourth. Theisen led off with a single before Edevane launched a two-run home run to put the Tars ahead 3-1. Zahradnik followed with a bunt single, and Golas added another hit to put two on with no outs. Layton singled to load the bases, and a sacrifice fly to center scored Zahradnik while moving Golas into scoring position. After the Saints caught a runner stealing, Borkey delivered an RBI hit to score Golas and extend the lead to 5-1.
Flagler threatened in the bottom half with two runners via hit by pitch and walk, but Rollins escaped with an infield fly and pop-up. Both teams went quietly in the fifth. Golas drew a walk to open the sixth, but the Saints retired the side. In the bottom half, Flagler drew two walks, but
Addison Crawford stranded both runners with a strikeout.
Flagler made one final push in the seventh, putting two runners aboard with a walk and a single, but a lineout to short and a force at second ended the game and secured the 5-1 win for Rollins.
Rollins returns to the field Saturday, February 14, for its home opener at MLK Park against Auburn University Montgomery, scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
