Spartans Drop Both Games of Doubleheader to Rollins

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team fall in both legs of today's doubleheader against the Rollins Tars to drop only their second SSC series this season.

Records: Tampa 27-10, (14-7), Rollins 26-13, (14-10)

Location: Naimoli Field l Tampa, FL.

History: Today's double header marked 129th and 130th meetings between Rollins and Tampa with the Spartans holding all-time series lead of 74-56.

Final Game One: Tampa 3, Rollins 7

Final Game Two: Tampa 0, Rollins 5

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

Tampa got off to a fast start as they were able to score a pair of runs in the first inning through a two run single from Joey Trawick to give the Spartans another early lead. Holly Steffus would get another start in the circle for Tampa, and through would cruise through the first three innings of her outing. However, Steffus would allow a run early in the top of the fourth inning courtesy of back-to-back doubles from the Tars, but Steffus would bounce right back to retire the side and keep the Spartans ahead. In the bottom of the fourth though, the Spartans would respond with a run of their own to push the lead back to two runs, but they would miss an opportunity to further extend the lead by leaving the bases loaded. With a two run lead, Tampa would once again turn to Gwen McGinnis to close out the final three innings of the game. However, this appearance would go very differently for the Spartan ace as the Tars would score two runs and tie the game in the fifth to establish firm control of the momentum following the Spartans' missed opportunity in the fourth. Rollins would carry this momentum into the sixth as they would score four more runs off of McGinnis to grab a stranglehold on the game and take a four run lead. This four run lead would be plenty as the Tars would close out the game without allowing another run to take game one.

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Steffus - 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H

• McGinnis - L (18-4): 3.0 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 SO, 1 BB

• Cam Feast - 3-4, 2 2B (5), R

• Trawick - 1-4, 2 RBI (9)

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

The Spartans were back at it for game two and would leave Koda Travers with the task of keeping the Tars off the board. A task that she would perform admirably as the only blemish in the first four innings would come in the third inning when the Tars would take advantage of an error to take the lead. Despite Travers keeping the Tars close, the Spartans would struggle to find meaningful offensive pressure until the fifth inning when a leadoff double from Kinnah Kreidler would lead to Tampa having runners on first and third with only one out. The Spartans would try to execute the perfect double steal to tie the game, but the Tars would have the perfect answer to cut down the run at the plate and hang on to the lead. The game would enter the seventh still in the balance, but it would not stay that way as the Tars would execute four straight singles off of Travers and six total hits in the inning en route to scoring an additional four runs to pull away from the Spartans again. This five run lead would stand as Rollins was able to shut out the Spartans in game two to sweep the double header. 

INSIDE THE STATS:  

• Travers - L (2-4): 6.1 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 8 H, 0 SO, 2 BB

• Aubrey Zechmann - 2-3

• Kreidler - 1-3, 2B (7)

() - Season Totals

UP NEXT: The Spartans will look to bounce back on the road against Florida Tech on Friday, April 24 at 6:00pm.