DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Rollins softball swept both contests on Friday at the Eagle Classic, defeating Tiffin 4-1 before edging Assumption 5-4 in eight innings.
Game One – Rollins 4, Tiffin 1
Brianna Perantoni sparked the offense early, singling through the left side to begin the game.
Brooke Theisen followed with a base hit that brought Perantoni around, but a strong throw from the right fielder cut her down at the plate. Theisen advanced to second on the play and came home moments later when
Rachel Matthiesen drove a ball into left-center, giving the Tars a 1-0 lead.
Rollins added to the advantage in the second.
Jenna Borkey opened the inning with an infield bunt single, and
Kaeli Zahradnik drew a walk to put two aboard.
Claire Long laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, setting the table for Perantoni. She delivered, sending a two-RBI hit to score both runners and stretch the lead to 3-0.
The Tars' defense kept Tiffin quiet through the first three innings before the Dragons broke through in the fourth, using an error and a fielder's choice to push across a run. Tiffin later loaded the bases, but Rollins worked out of the jam to preserve the two-run lead.
Rollins added insurance in the sixth.
Cambrie Todd doubled to open the inning, with
Lucy McLogan entering as a pinch runner. Borkey followed with an RBI single to bring McLogan home and extend the lead to 4-1.
Both teams put runners on base late, but neither side could capitalize as Rollins secured the victory.
Reese Twiggs earned the win in the circle with a complete-game performance, improving to 6-2 on the season.
Game Two – Rollins 5, Assumption 4 (8 inn.)
Assumption struck first in the nightcap, using a baserunner and a timely hit to plate a run in the opening inning. The Greyhounds threatened for more, but a strong throw from Perantoni in right field cut down a runner at the plate to keep the deficit at one.
Both teams were held scoreless over the next several innings until Rollins broke through in the fourth. Matthiesen reached on an Assumption infield error, and with McLogan entering as a pinch runner,
Cambrie Todd moved her to third with contact. Borkey followed with a walk and quickly stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Zahradnik provided the big swing, launching a three-run home run over the left-field wall to give Rollins a 3-1 lead.
Assumption answered in the bottom of the fourth with a run to pull within one, and the score remained tight through the next inning as both teams left runners aboard.
Rollins extended the lead in the sixth. Consecutive singles from Borkey and Zahradnik put two on, and both advanced into scoring position.
Gabriella Barrera lifted a sacrifice fly to score Borkey and push the lead to 4-2.
The Greyhounds mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. After a Rollins error put a runner on base, Assumption followed with a single and a double to bring home two runs and tie the game at four, forcing extra innings.
With Theisen placed at second to begin the eighth, a ground ball moved her to third before Todd delivered the go-ahead RBI to give Rollins a 5-4 lead. Assumption advanced its placed runner with a bunt in the bottom half, but the Tars recorded back-to-back flyouts to seal the win.
Addison Crawford picked up the victory, while Twiggs entered in the eighth to secure her second save of the season.
Rollins improves to 11-5 on the season and returns to action Saturday, March 7, at 3 p.m. for a rematch with Assumption to close out the Eagle Classic.
