WINTER PARK , Fla. (February 5, 2006) The Rollins College baseball
team split a pair of games with Belmont Abbey on Sunday as the Tars
took the first game 6-5 and dropped the second 3-2. Rollins (3-2)
took three out of four on the weekend from the Crusaders (1-3)
during back to back double headers on Saturday and Sunday.
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Sophomore second baseman Gary Martoccio hit the Tars' second homer
of the season in the first game. And senior center fielder Brent
Magnunson delivered the winning RBI's as a pinch hitter with two
outs in the seventh. Freshman John Masklee went 6.1 strong innings
in the second game but was still pinned with the loss as the Tars
couldn't produce enough runs for the young lefty.
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In
the first game of the day, the Tars bats led the way. Sophomore
second baseman Gary Martoccio got things started with a three run
blast to deep right in the third inning to put Rollins up 3-0. The
Crusaders responded in the top half of the fourth with an Alex
Udwari RBI double, and a RBI groundout by Josh Haire to make it
3-2. The Tars added another run in the bottom half of the fourth on
a Tyler Hartman RBI single to center field. That made the score 4-2
in favor of Rollins. Belmont Abbey would tie the game up with runs
in the fifth and sixth. But the Tars would get a clutch two out
double from pinch hitter Brent Magnunson that turned out to be the
game winner. Sophomore right hander Bill Bradley worked three
strong innings for the Tars to get the win. And Rob Cloar worked
the ninth for his first save of the season, as the Tars prevailed
6-5.
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In
the second game, the Tars bats couldn't get warm in the cold
weather. Belmont Abbey got started early. The Crusaders posted runs
in the first and third to go up 2-0 on the Tars' freshman lefty,
John Masklee. The Tars tied it up with two runs in the third on RBI
singles by Gene Howard and Stefano Foggi. Masklee would settle in
nicely as he went 6.1 giving up only five hits and striking out
four. However, Masklee would give up a RBI double to pinch hitter
Ryan Ronda in the top of the seventh which would turn out to be the
game winner.
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The Tars will return to
action on Tuesday February 7, as they will travel down I4 for a
non-conference match-up with SSC rival, Tampa . The first pitch is
scheduled for 7:00 pm. Rollins will then return to Alfond Stadium
on Friday February 10, when they will host South Region rival,
Carson Newman for a four game set.
