WINTER PARK, Fla. – Rollins softball fell just short to #1 Auburn Montgomery on Saturday, the Tars losing in extras, 4-3, in game one and 3-2 in game two.
Game One - Auburn Montgomery 4, Rollins 3 (8 inn.)
The Tars wasted no time getting on the board in the opener. After
Jenna Borkey drew a walk and aggressively moved into scoring position,
Rachel Matthiesen delivered the first big swing of the afternoon, launching a two-run home run to left center to give Rollins a 2-0 lead in the first.
Auburn Montgomery responded in the second, capitalizing on a Rollins error to plate an unearned run and cut the deficit to one. The Blue and Gold answered in the third.
Madi Carr singled to begin the inning and later came around to score on a
Brooke Theisen RBI double to left center, extending the lead to 3-1.
Rollins' defense held firm through the middle innings, with Twiggs working efficiently in the circle. The Warhawks pieced together a two-run sixth inning, using a pair of walks and an RBI single to even the score at 3-3.
Both sides were retired in order in the seventh, sending the game to extras. In the eighth, Auburn Montgomery capitalized on the international tiebreaker, scoring the go-ahead run on a single to right center to take a 4-3 lead.
Rollins had an opportunity in the bottom half after reaching on an error and drawing a walk to load, but three consecutive strikeouts ended the rally and sealed the extra-inning decision.
Game Two - Auburn Montgomery 3, Rollins 2
The second contest opened as a pitcher's duel between
Camila Leon-Blanco and Auburn Montgomery's Newsome.
Both teams were retired in order through the first two innings before Carr broke through in the third, sending a solo home run to left center to give the Tars a 1-0 advantage.
Auburn Montgomery answered in the fourth. After a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position, a sacrifice fly tied the game before a two-run home run down the left-field line pushed the Warhawks ahead 3-1.
Rollins began to chip away in the sixth.
Brianna Perantoni singled to start the inning and later advanced to third. After Matthiesen reached on an error and pinch runner
Jaelyn Joiner moved into scoring position, Theisen delivered an RBI single to bring home Perantoni and cut the deficit to 3-2. The Tars loaded the bases later in the frame but were unable to find the equalizer.
Leon-Blanco settled in to keep the game within reach, retiring Auburn Montgomery in the seventh to give Rollins one final chance.
Perantoni singled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to spark the rally, but a flyout to center ended the contest as the Warhawks secured the 3-2 win.
Rollins returns to the field tomorrow, February 15, for a doubleheader with #2 Angelo State, starting at 11:30 a.m. at MLK Jr. Park in Winter Park.
