WINTER PARK, Fla. – Rollins softball fell in a tight contest to Eckerd on Saturday afternoon, with the Tritons claiming a 5-3 victory.

Eckerd threatened early, putting two runners aboard to open the first, but the Tars' defense held to keep the game scoreless. Rollins answered in the bottom half, as Daylin Hejtmanek and Brianna Perantoni recorded back-to-back hits. Both moved into scoring position on contact from Rachel Matthiesen, but a squeeze bunt that would have brought home the first run was called back for an early departure, keeping the game tied at zero.

After a scoreless second, Rollins broke through in the third. Claire Long drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Hejtmanek placed a well-timed chopper to give the Tars runners on the corners. Perantoni delivered with a single up the middle to open the scoring. She then stole second, and a pair of wild pitches allowed both runners to come home, extending the lead to 3-0.

The Tritons began to chip away in the middle innings. A solo home run in the fourth put Eckerd on the board, and a three-hit sequence in the sixth following an ejection out of the Eckerd dugout brought the Tritons within one heading into the final frame.

Eckerd completed the comeback in the seventh. Consecutive hits to open the inning set the tone, and after tying the game, a double later in the frame brought in two more runs to give the Tritons a 5-3 lead.

Rollins had one final opportunity in the bottom of the seventh, forcing a pair of tough defensive plays, but was unable to complete the rally as Eckerd secured the win.

Rollins played only the series opener Friday, with the remaining games against Eckerd set for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at MLK Jr. Park.