WINTER PARK , Fla. (February 4, 2006) The Rollins College baseball
team got back on the right track as they took a pair of games in
their home opener at Alfond Stadium against Belmont Abbey, 4-3 and
1-0. The Tars (2-1) used their bats to take the first game from the
Crusaders (0-2) and used the righteous right arm of junior hurler
Mario Lombardo to blank Abbey in the second game.
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Junior third baseman Gene Howard crushed the Tars' first homer of
the season in the third inning of the first game. And sophomore
first baseman Stefano Foggi delivered a clutch two out two RBI
single. In the second game it was sophomore Kevin Schnacke's turn
to play hero. Schnacke delivered a two out walk off single to win
the second game 1-0. Junior Mario Lombardo went the full seven for
the Tars in the second game shutting out the Crusaders while
striking out 13 men.
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In
the first game, the bats from Belmont Abbey got started early. The
Crusaders got two runs off of starter David Nathanson in the first
inning on a bases loaded hit batsman and a RBI ground out. Rollins
got a run back in the third on Gene Howard's crank to right field.
Abbey struck back in the fifth with a Michael Gegorek RBI single to
right. But Rollins answered right back with Stefano Foggi's 2 out 2
RBI single. The Rollins pen would shut the Crusaders' bats down
from there. Freshman Michael Eppich went 2.2 innings giving up only
one hit and one walk to get the win. The Tars got the game winning
run in the seventh inning on a balk by Andrew Morton. Gene Howard
worked the ninth for his first save.
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The
second game was a classic pitcher's duel with Mario Lombardo
tossing for the Tars and Michael Raymond going for the Crusaders.
The game was scoreless until the final play. Lombardo was in
command the entire night, striking out 13 batters in the seven
inning affair and walking none. Raymond was sharp but had to be
pulled after six. He gave up four hits and four walks. The Tars got
the victory by playing excellent small ball in the late innings.
Rollins began the seventh with a walk by Ryan McKenzie. Kevin Small
followed with a perfect sac bunt to move him to second. And
Schnacke put the game away with a solid knock to left center.
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The Tars will be back in
action with another double-header against Belmont Abbey at Alfond
Stadium on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm. The
Tars then travel down I4 on Tuesday for a non-conference match-up
against Sunshine State Conference rival, Tampa . First pitch is
scheduled for 7:00 pm at Jack Russell Stadium.
