Rollins Tars Cruise By Panthers In Softball
By Space Coast Daily // April 13, 2013
FIT Now 25-17 Overall
WINTER PARK, FLORIDA – Behind a three-run first inning lead, 18th-ranked Rollins College’s Niki Fogle scattered three hits and allowed one earned run in the Tars’ 6-3 series-opening softball win against Florida Tech on Friday night at Lake Island Park.
The Panthers are now 25-17 overall and 12-7 in the Sunshine State Conference, while Rollins improves to 37-8, 12-7 SSC.
“We had a few miscues at the beginning of the game and they were the difference,” head coach Val Silvestrini said. “We improved offensively and defensively as the game went on, but we came up short. Amanda (Smith) and Taylor (Smith) had great performances again in the circle. We will be ready to make those adjustments tomorrow.”
The Panthers committed one error in the first inning, leading to three runs. Rollins capitalized on two more miscues in the third, and Fogle had the luxury of working with a 6-0 lead. FIT erased the zero on the scoreboard on a two-out bases loaded walk by Elaine Brown in the fifth inning.
Kelsey Donahue came through with a two-out two-run home run, her first of her career, in the seventh.
Fogle, however, recorded her 11thstrikeout of the game to improve her record to 21-3 on the season.
Amanda Smith (17-10) received the loss. Her sister, Taylor Smith, relieved her with one out in the fourth inning and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
FIT and Rollins will return to the diamond on Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Winter Park.
