SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo softball team (7-8, 0-1 SSC) fell in their Sunshine State Conference home opener, 2-1 to the Rollins College Tars despite Tatiana Casis’s seventh home run of the season, Friday evening at University Field.

The clash between two of the top pitchers in the SSC fell in Rollins favor this go-around as Nichole Anderson snuck out a one-run victory over ace Ashley Urbanik and the Lions.

Rollins struck in the top of the first inning, as one three walks and an infield single plated the first Tars’ run. A Christine Roser home run added to the Rollins lead, making the score heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Tatiana Casis led off the inning with a blast to right centerfield to cut the lead in half but that was all the runs the Green and Gold push across the plate that inning.

Urbanik (4-7) was rock solid in the circle after a shaky first, allowing only one run and two hits the rest of the way.

With the Tars’ bats silenced, the mighty Saint Leo offense had two prime chances at the end of the ball game to try and tie the game up. But Nichole Anderson remained stingy in the circle, as Saint Leo left runners in scoring position the final two innings securing the victory for Rollins. The Rollins ace struck out 14 Lions on the night while going the distance.

Elysha Agen made her return to the Lions line-up and went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Casis once again made her presence known, going 2-for-3 from the plate, while connecting on her 21st career home run.

The Lions get a shot at redemption Saturday, February 28, as Rollins makes a return visit to University Field to take on the Saint Leo in SSC doubleheader action. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm.