WINTER PARK , Fla. (February 21, 2006) The Rollins College baseball
team took its best shot Tuesday night at the defending NCAA
Division II National Champs, Florida Southern, but fell short at
home 4-1. The Tars (9-5) left nine men on base against a very tough
Moccasin (10-4) staff. Junior starting pitcher David Nathanson gave
up nine hits over five innings. He managed to limit the mighty Mocs
bats to just two earned runs. Florida Southern came into the game
hitting an incredible .347 as a team.
'
The
Tars were led by junior third baseman, Gene Howard. Howard could do
no wrong with his bat as he went 4-4 with three singles and a
double. Unfortunately for the home team, the Tars could not get
anyone on in front of Howard. Freshman outfielder Anthony Soto also
had a big game. Soto went 3-4 at the plate including a solo home
run off of last season's Championship Series MVP, Mocs closer Kyle
DeYoung. Junior shortstop Ryan McKenzie added the Tars only other
two hits with two scattered singles.
'
Florida Southern was led offensively by starting pitcher and later
designated hitter, Brian Schultz. Schultz finished 3-5 with a RBI
and run scored. Schultz also picked up the victory after going five
innings without allowing a run. Center fielder Adam Calderone also
had a nice night going 3-4 with a RBI and a run scored.
'
Florida Southern capitalized in the first inning as they got their
first two runs after an error with two outs. The Mocs would add two
more in the fourth inning on four hits. Nathanson had a hard time
settling in against the potent Florida Southern line-up. He wasn't
hit all that hard, in fact many of the Moccasins hits were infield
singles. However, Nathanson still did give up nine hits over five
innings of work. Rollins got its only run in the bottom of the
ninth on Soto's lead-off blast. The homer was only the second jack
given up by closer Kyle DeYoung in over a year.
'
Junior reliever Jonathan Wano worked four innings for the Tars
giving up only two hits while striking out six.
'
The Tars will now have a
week long break before they travel to Webber International on
February 28 to battle the Warriors. First pitch is scheduled for 7
pm in Babson Park , Florida .
