TAMPA, Fla. – Rollins softball dropped the series opener to Tampa on the road Friday night, falling 3-1.
Neither team found a breakthrough in the opening inning before the Spartans struck first in the second, using a pair of hits to plate a run.
The middle innings remained quiet, with both sides going down in order in the third and fourth. Tampa added to its lead in the fifth, stringing together three hits to score two runs and extend the advantage to 3-0.
Rollins began to find some life in the sixth.
Kaeli Zahradnik recorded the Tars' first hit of the game with a single up the middle, and
Claire Long followed with a bunt to move her into scoring position.
Alondra Maldonado-Ortiz added a base hit to put runners on the corners, and
Lucy McLogan entered as a pinch runner, stealing second to give Rollins two runners in scoring position.
Daylin Hejtmanek delivered the breakthrough, singling to right field to bring home the Tars' first run. Tampa, however, worked out of the inning with the remaining runners stranded to maintain the lead.
Brooke Theisen sparked another opportunity in the seventh with a base hit to right and advanced to second on an errant throw. The Tars were unable to capitalize, as the Spartans closed out the game to secure the 3-1 win.
Rollins falls to 24-13 overall and 12-10 in SSC play, while Tampa improves to 27-8 (13-5 SSC). The Tars return to action Saturday, April 18, with a 1 p.m. / 3 p.m. doubleheader to conclude the series.
