WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 28, 2006) ' Rollins pitcher Rob Cloar
helped his own cause with a two RBI single in the bottom of the
seventh to break the tie and give Rollins a thrilling 4-2
non-conference victory over Saint Leo on Tuesday. The Lions (21-12)
had the bases loaded in the ninth, but Tars (19-13) closer Gene
Howard was able to hold on for the save.
'
Saint Leo took control early as Sean VanGuilder led off the game
with a single and after a Rhett Teller walk, stole second to put
runners on second and third with one out. Eric Thompson hit a sac
fly that scored VanGuilder followed by a Ricky Nolan RBI double
that plated Teller and gave the Lions an early 2-0 advantage.
'
Rollins caught a break in their half of the frame with Howard
reaching on an error with one out. After a groundout, Brent
Magnuson sent a shot over the right-center fence to put two on the
board for Rollins and knot the game.
'
Both
pitchers then settled down through the middle innings and preserved
the tie. Cloar moved from DH to pitcher in the seventh and allowed
a single, walk and wild pitch, but kept the Lions from crossing the
plate. In the bottom of the inning, Saint Leo got two quick outs,
but Tyler Hartman and Howard fired off singles to put two on base.
Cloar then sent the second pitch to the gap in right center and
brought them both home for a 4-2 Rollins lead.
'
The
Lions loaded them up in the ninth with a VanGuilder double, Teller
walk and Scott single, but Howard got Thompson looking to end the
game and make it back to back wins for Rollins.
'
Cloar picked up the victory in relief, allowing two hits with one
walk and four strikeouts in two scoreless innings. Howard
surrendered two hits and struck out two in the ninth to record his
third save of the season. Jon Wano started the game for Rollins
scattering five hits and allowing two runs in six innings of
work.
'
Starter Carter Clements suffered the loss for the Lions, allowing
10 hits and four runs, two earned, while totaling 10 strikeouts in
seven innings of work.
'
Rollins' bats were led by Magnuson who went 2-3 with two RBI and a
run scored. Hartman and Howard each knocked out two hits with Cloar
racking up two RBI.
'
VanGuilder went 3-5 with a run scored to pace the Lions with Scott
batting 2-5. Thompson and Nolan each tallied an RBI for Saint
Leo.
'
Rollins returns to
action on Friday, March 31 when they will open up a Sunshine State
Conference series at home against Florida Tech. First pitch is
scheduled for 7 p.m. with a doubleheader on Saturday slated for 1
p.m.