WINTER PARK , Fla. (March 22, 2006) The Rollins College baseball
team looked like a completely different squad on Wednesday night. A
night after losing to UMass 7-2, the Tars (17-11) came back on
Wednesday and took out some revenge on the Minutemen, winning the
game 13-5. On Tuesday Rollins left 12 men on base and posted just
two runs. Wednesday night, the Tars left 10 men on base, however
they scored 13 runs on just 11 hits. Rollins was able to take
advantage of six UMass errors, and eight free passes issued by the
Minutemen pitching staff.
'
The
Tars were led offensively by junior third baseman Gene Howard.
Howard went 2-5 on the night with a run scored, a double and two
RBI. Freshman outfielder Anthony Soto went 2-4 on the night with a
run scored and a RBI double. Sophomore designated hitter Steven
Mannenbach also had a good night at the plate going 2-4 with a run
scored, a walk, and a RBI. Junior shortstop Ryan McKenzie made a
lot of noise at the number nine spot in the Tar lineup. McKenzie
went 2-3 with two runs scored, a double and three runs batted
in.
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Senior pitcher Rob Cloar made his first start on the season for the
Tars. Cloar went three innings giving up two earned runs on four
hits while striking out two. Freshman John Masklee relieved Cloar,
going five innings giving up three runs on six hits while striking
out two to pick up his first collegiate win.
'
Rollins started the game off with a bang in the bottom of the first
inning. Gary Martoccio and Tyler Hartman began the inning with back
to back walks. Gene Howard drove in Hartman with a one out double.
Steven Mannenbach then scored Anthony Soto with a one out RBI
single to right. Jesse More knocked in a run with two outs on a
fielder's choice. And the Tars got their other two runs in the
inning on a throwing error by the catcher which scored More and
Mannenbach. The Tars added another run in the bottom of the second.
McKenzie led off the second with a double and would later score on
another double by Soto to center.
'
The
Tars then blew the game open in the bottom of the third. Rollins
took advantage of two fielding errors in the inning by scoring five
more runs. The Tars posted five hits with two outs in the inning
and scored five unearned runs on the Minutemen pitching staff.
McKenzie posted two RBI in the inning, Martoccio got a RBI double,
Hartman got a RBI single, and Howard got a RBI single as well.
'
UMass tried to claw back in with two runs in the top of the fourth
off of John Masklee. However, the freshman stood tall and wouldn't
back down. Masklee ended up going five innings giving up just one
more run after the fourth.
'
The
Tars continued to pile it on the rest of the game with a run in the
fifth and a run in the eighth. Rollins would go on to cruise to an
easy 13-5 victory.
'
Rollins will return to action on Friday, March 24 when they will
travel down to Miami Shores for a three game set with the Barry
University Buccaneers. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 6 pm.
Saturday will be a double header with the first pitch scheduled for
noon.
