WINTER PARK, Fla. – Rollins softball dropped the first two games of its series against Saint Leo on Thursday, falling 9-1 in game one and 6-4 in game two.
Game One – Saint Leo 9, Rollins 1 (5 inn.)
The Lions came out swinging, using a pair of hits in the opening inning to plate the first run of the game. Rollins went quietly in the bottom half, and Saint Leo added to its advantage in the second with a two-run home run.
The Tars answered in the bottom of the second.
Brooke Theisen reached on an error and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from
Makayla Layton.
Claire Long delivered, doubling to left center to bring Theisen home and cut the deficit to 3-1.
Saint Leo continued to apply pressure in the third, stringing together several hits to push four runs across and stretch the lead to 7-1.
Rachel Matthiesen and
Madi Carr each collected a pair of hits for Rollins, but the Tars were unable to capitalize, leaving runners stranded in both the third and fourth innings.
The Lions added two more in the fifth to extend the margin to eight runs and trigger the run-rule scenario. Rollins mounted one final push in the bottom half, loading the bases behind consecutive singles from
Brianna Perantoni,
Kaeli Zahradnik, and Matthiesen, but Saint Leo worked out of the jam to secure the 9-1 victory.
Game Two – Saint Leo 6, Rollins 4
Rollins struck first in the second contest. Perantoni reached on a bunt single, and
Daylin Hejtmanek followed with a walk to put two aboard. Both moved into scoring position on stolen bases, and after
Cambrie Todd drew a walk to load the bases, Theisen delivered an RBI single to left to give the Tars a 1-0 lead.
Both teams were held in check over the next two innings before Saint Leo evened the score at 1-1. The Lions seized momentum in the following frame, using two home runs to take a 3-1 advantage. Rollins responded with patience at the plate, drawing three walks in the bottom half to load the bases, but could not break through.
Layton sparked the offense in the sixth, drawing a walk and stealing second before coming all the way around to score on a throwing error, trimming the deficit to 3-2 entering the seventh.
Saint Leo answered in the top of the final frame with an RBI double and a two-run home run to extend the lead to 6-2.
The Tars continued to battle. Hejtmanek walked and stole second to open the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter
Monica Kading was hit by a pitch, with
Lucy McLogan entering as a pinch runner and swiping second. Todd delivered a clutch double down the line to score both runners and pull Rollins within two. The Tars placed two more runners in scoring position, but the final outs halted the rally, sealing the 6-4 decision.
Rollins moves to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in SSC play. The Tars will conclude the series against Saint Leo on Friday at 11 a.m. in Winter Park.
