Box Score WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Eckerd softball team again proved that it can play step-for-step with the top teams in the conference, taking Rollins into extra innings before an error lead to the winning run in a 2-1 loss to the Tars.
After Brittany Johnson was hit by a pitch from
Nikole Van Gennep with one out in the ninth, Courtney Durbin attempted to move her over via a sacrifice bunt. Â
However, instead of moving one base, Johnson moved three when Van Gennep's throw got away and allowed her to score all the way from first for the winning run.
Still, the error did little to dampen a marvelous performance in the circle from Van Gennep (7-7) who allowed only five hits through 8-1/3 innings while walking none and striking out eight.
Eckerd (12-10-1, 1-3 SSC) took a quick lead after
Carrie Shere led off the game with a home run on a 3-2 count. It turned out to be the only mistake Rollins pitcher Niki Fogle made as she limited EC to five hits while fanning 11. The Tritons' best chance after Shere's blast came in the fifth inning when
Dana Paul singled to left with one out and advanced to second on a fielding error. However, Fogle struck out the next two batters to strand Paul in scoring position.
Rollins (17-4-1, 4-0 SSC) tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-out single by Hailee Keisling. Neither team scored again until the Tars pushed in the winning run in the ninth.
Kaycie Duncan had two hits for Eckerd, her seventh multi-hit game of the season.
The series concludes tomorrow with a double-header beginning at 2:00 PM.
