Tars Season Comes to a Close at NCAA Regional

TAMPA, Fla. (May 13, 2022) – Rollins 2022 campaign came to an end following a pair of win-or-go-home contest at the NCAA South Region 2 Championships.  Rollins opened the day by surviving their first elimination contest, defeating Embry-Riddle 5-1 in extra innings.  The Tars could not keep the momentum going, however, as they lost to the hosts, Tampa, 9-5, in their second attempt to stave off elimination.  The Tars end their season at 32-12 overall.  Tampa and Valdosta State will compete for the Regional Championship.
 
GAME ONE: Rollins 5, Embry-Riddle 1 (9)
Rollins fell behind early, but scored late to force extra innings, in the first elimination game of the NCAA Division II South Region 2 Tournament.  The Tars then capitalized on Eagle mistakes to put up a big number in the ninth inning, advancing in the tournament.
 
Taylor Waters led the Tars at the plate, going 3-4 with a double. Raiven Bryant tallied a pair of hits, and scored for Rollins.  Jaden Walker went 1-5 with an RBI and a stolen base.  Ashley Worrell again starred for the Tars in the circle.  The Oviedo, Florida native threw all nine innings, allowing just one run, and striking out eight, on her way to the victory.
 
The Eagles got two hit games from Lia Johnson and Maggie Scott to lead their offense.  Isabella Bonn went 1-3 and scored the lone Embry-Riddle tally.  Kelsi Collins tossed a complete game, giving up five runs, only two earned, and striking out four, in the circle for the Eagles.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Inning:

• The Eagles threatened in the first inning, loading the bases with just one out.
• Ashley Worrell escaped the frame by getting a force out at the plate and a strikeout.

Second Inning

• Embry-Riddle jumped in front, scoring on a one out single, and a Rollins error.

Seventh Inning

• The first two Tars were retired quickly and Rollins was down to their final out.
• Ashley Troutman kept the inning alive, reaching on an Eagle miscue.  The infielder then moved into scoring position with a stolen base.
• Troutman would round the bases as Raiven Bryant reached safely on a fielder's choice, drawing the game level at 1-1.
• The Eagles got the leadoff batter on in the bottom of the frame, but a pair of strikeouts and an outfield assist from Jaden Walker forced extra innings.

Eighth Inning

• Rollins threatened in the first extra at bat, using a pair of Embry-Riddle errors and a Taylor Waters bunt to load the bases with just one out. But, Rollins could not convert on the chance.

Ninth Inning

• Bryant started the Tars' ninth inning rally with a one out single up the middle.
• The senior infielder worked her way around the bases and scored the go ahead run when Chelsea Peace reached safely on an Embry-Riddle error.
• After Sarah Young was hit by a pitch, Tyler Jo Colby slapped a single to right field, pushing both Peace and Young home.
• Waters kept the inning going with an infield single, bringing up Walker, who drove an RBI single to left.
• The Eagles would load the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate, in the bottom of the ninth, but Worrell induced a game ending groundout for Rollins

GAME TWO: Tampa 9, Rollins 5
A Tars comeback attempt came up short, and Tampa tacked some insurance runs on late, as the Spartans eliminated the Tars from the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.
 
Chelsea Peace went a perfect 3-3 from the plate, tallying an RBI and scoring a run.  Ashley Troutman and Taylor Waters both knocked a pair of hits, with Troutman adding a run to her stat line.  Tyler Jo Colby and Jaden Walker each registered two RBI for the Tars.  Ashley Worrell got her second start of the day, throwing four innings and giving up five runs.  Emily MacMullen tossed 2.2 innings of relief, giving up four runs.  Katie Eicher closed out the final 0.1 innings.
 
Mariah Galhouse led the Spartans offensively and in the circle.  The freshman got the win, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing five runs, while also going 3-5 at the plate, with a run and two RBI.  Corynn Miner, Stephanie Balmer, and Mackenzie Allen also recorded multi-hit nights for the Spartans.  Mary Beth Feldman picked up the save, tossing the final 1.1 innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Second Inning

• The Spartans loaded the bases, setting the stage for a two out rally, as Tampa used an RBI single and a hit by pitch to take a 2-0 lead.

Third Inning

• Galhouse tallied a leadoff single, before scoring the third Tampa run an a two out, RBI, base knock.

Fourth Inning

• Tampa manufactured a pair of runs, again using two hits to, making the score 5-0 in favor of the hosts.

Sixth Inning

• Tampa ballooned their lead to 6-0 in the top of the frame.
• Rollins bats finally came alive in the bottom of the inning.
• Ashley Troutman started the rally with a one out single, and scored on a Chelsea Peace RBI single through the left side of the infield.
• The Tars would then load the bases for a Tyler Jo Colby, two RBI, single up the middle, halving the Tampa led to 6-3.
• Jaden Walker capped the effort, slapping a single that scored Colby and Reagan Raley, cutting the Tars' deficit down to one, at 6-5.

Seventh Inning

• Tampa tallied a trio of insurance runs in the seventh. Russo's homerun highlighted the three, and was joined by another two out single and a wild pitch.
• Rollins went down in order in the bottom of the frame. 

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