WINTER PARK, Fla. – Rollins softball dropped the series opener to Nova Southeastern on Friday night, falling 8-2.
Game One – Nova Southeastern 8, Rollins 2
Both teams recorded hits in the opening inning but left runners stranded, keeping the game scoreless through one.
Nova Southeastern broke through in the second, using a pair of solo home runs to take a 2-0 lead.
Rollins answered in the bottom half. Claire Long doubled to put a runner in scoring position and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Makayla Layton. Brianna Perantoni brought her home on an infield chopper, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
After a quiet third inning, the Tars continued to apply pressure in the fourth. Kaeli Zahradnik opened the frame with a bunt single and advanced to second on contact from Long. Layton followed with a double off the wall, driving in Zahradnik to even the score at 2-2.
The Sharks regained the lead in the fifth with another solo home run and held Rollins in the bottom half despite a pair of baserunners. Nova Southeastern added to its advantage in the sixth with two hits to plate a run, then broke the game open in the seventh with a grand slam to make it 8-2.
Rollins was unable to mount a late rally, managing just one hit in the final frame as the Sharks secured the series-opening win.
Rollins moves to 17-8 overall and 5-5 in SSC play, while Nova Southeastern improves to 17-15 (3-7 SSC). The two teams will continue the series Saturday, March 21, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Winter Park.
