DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Rollins softball opened its series against Embry-Riddle with a 5-2 road victory on Friday, using a sixth-inning rally to secure the win.
Rachel Matthiesen recorded the first hit of the afternoon for the Tars, but the runner was left stranded. Embry-Riddle also put a few runners aboard early, though both teams came up empty through the first two innings.
The scoring began in the third. Rollins earned a leadoff runner after
Claire Long was hit by a pitch, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt from
Makayla Layton to move Long into scoring position.
Brianna Perantoni singled to give the Tars runners on the corners, and
Brooke Theisen delivered with a base hit through the left side to plate the first run of the day.
Embry-Riddle responded in the bottom half of the inning, stringing together three consecutive hits to score two runs and take a 2-1 lead.
Both offenses were held quiet through the middle innings before Rollins mounted its rally in the sixth.
Cambrie Todd led things off with a pinch-hit double to left center, and
Lucy McLogan entered as a pinch runner. McLogan came around to score moments later on a pinch-hit single from
Alondra Maldonado-Ortiz, tying the game at two after an overturned call at the plate.
Marisa Edevane kept the inning alive with an infield single to put runners on the corners. A series of substitutions followed, placing
Jenna Borkey at third,
Jaelyn Joiner at first, and
Gabriella Barrera at the plate. Joiner stole second, and Barrera drew a walk to load the bases.
Claire Long then delivered the biggest swing of the inning, sending a ball over the right fielder's head to score two and give Rollins the lead.
Isabella Golas followed with a pinch-hit groundout that brought home another run, pushing the advantage to 5-2.
Rollins held firm in the final frame to shut down any Embry-Riddle comeback attempt and secure the victory.
Reese Twiggs earned the complete-game win in the circle, improving to 8-2 on the season.
Rollins improves to 15-5 overall and will conclude the series against Embry-Riddle on Saturday, March 14, with games scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Daytona Beach.
