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WINTER PARK â€" Clutch hitting by freshman shortstop Christie Bailey put Florida Southern in position for a win over 16th-ranked Rollins Wednesday night, but the Tars’ All-American catcher, Christine Roser, led a 7th-inning rally that took it away. With Roser hitting a home run in each game of the doubleheader, and sparking the comeback with a 7th-Inning double in the opener, Rollins took two from Florida Southern, 3-2 and 7-3.
In game one, the Tars (7-1, 3-0 Sunshine State Conference) had just two hits through the first six innings, but one of them was a solo home run by Roser with two out in the bottom of the first. Their other came from Jessica Moreland leading off the fifth inning, but Moccasin catcher Heather Raulerson knocked that runner off the bases when she threw out pinch-runner Brittney Pumpelly trying to steal second.
The Moccasins (2-5, 0-3) were able to tie the score 1-1 in the top of the fifth when Bailey singled with one out, and scored on the very next pitch when Raulerson laced a double into the leftfield corner.
The game was still tied in the top of the seventh when Christine Clark and Randi Grimes started the inning with back-to-back singles. Bailey then delivered her second big hit of the game with a single through the left side of the infield, bringing in pinch-runner, and birthday girl Brandy Pikus with the go-ahead run.
As Pikus scored, Grimes and Bailey were able to take an extra base, giving the Mocs runners at second and third with none out. Rollins pitcher Hope Bitzer kept them from scoring more with help from her defense. Third baseman Hilary Brown fielded a ground ball hit by Raulerson and checked the runners before getting the out at first, and leftfielder Meredith Foster made a running catch in short left to keep a ball hit by Dani Blake from falling in for another single. After an intentional walk to Steph Graziani, shortstop Amber Pederson fielded a sharply hit ball up the middle and stepped on second for the final out of the inning.
After the Mocs were unable to get another run across in the top of the seventh, the Tars made it hurt in the bottom of the inning. Roser led off with a double and two batters later took third on a single by Bitzer. Clark then got the second out of the inning, but it was a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score Roser with the tying run. Lawna Hunter then walked to push Bitzer into scoring position, and Bitzer scored the winning run moments later when a throw from Bailey came up a little short on its way to first.
Florida Southern ended up out-hitting Rollins in the game, 6-4, with Clark and Bailey picking up two apiece, while Roser had two of the Tars’ hits. In the circle, Clark gave up just two earned runs, struck out two and walked two, but fell to 2-3 with the loss. Bitzer saw her record improve to 4-0, striking out 10 and walking two, though she gave up her first runs in four appearances this year.
In game two, the Tars batted around in the first inning and scored five runs on four hits and three walks. Roser again delivered the first runs of the game with a 2-run homer, and a 2-run double by Hilary Brown ended the inning with the Tars up 5-0. Two more walks led to two more runs in the second inning, with both scoring on a double by Krista Rodden.
Florida Southern fought back with two of its own in the top of the third when Raulerson reached on an error, and Dani Blake followed with the first of her three hits in the game. A bunt single by Steph Graziani loaded the bases with none out before Peggy Alex hit a sacrifice fly for the Mocs’ first run. Blake would later score on a wild pitch to make it 7-2.
Blake had another hit leading off the top of the fifth, and the Mocs turned that into a run as well, with Erin Foley driving her in with a two-out single that proved to be the final score of the night.
Florida Southern again out-hit Rollins, this time by a 9-8 margin, with Blake going 3-for-3.
Roser had two more hits for Rollins, giving her four in the doubleheader. Amye McIntyre earned the win for the Tars, pitching five innings and giving up three runs on seven hits before giving way to Kirsten Frame.
Morgan Brown took the loss for Florida Southern, though the Moccasins also got 4.1 scoreless innings of relief from Liana Derringer. The freshman gave up just three hits, struck out two and walked no one.
The Moccasins will return to action next Tuesday night with a 6:00 p.m. doubleheader against St. Xavier (IL).
