Rollins Edges Tampa in Extras in NCAA South Region Opener
FLORENCE, Ala. - The University of Tampa softball team opened the 2015 NCAA Division II South Regional with a 3-2 loss to Rollins College in an 8-inning affair at the University of North Alabama Softball Complex.
A scoreless game until the bottom of the fourth inning, the Tars connected on a pair of solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings off the bats of Brittani Johnson and Tiffany Osmanski.
The Spartans would tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth on a clutch tewo out single off the bat of senior Lindsay Dring. With runners on second and third, Dring sin gled up the middle to score Sahrina Cortes and Meagan Burke.
After heading to extras, the Tars connected on their third solo home run of the game on a walk off by Johnson. The game-winner came with one out in the bottom of the eighth, going down as Johnson's second round tripper of the day.
Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year Julia Morrow (25-8) went the distance for Tampa, striking out seven in 7.1 innings of work.
Offensively, Dring collected two of UT's five hits, with the others coming off the bats of Kandi Kuder, Cortes and Burke.
The Spartans will now play in an elimination game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. UT will meet No. 3 seed and host University of North Alabama, who was defeated by a 2-1 score on Friday against Florida Tech. Fans may follow live stats and watch live by clicking the multimedia links on the UT softball schedule.
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