WINTER PARK , Fla. (March 31, 2006) The Rollins baseball team got a
much needed conference victory at home on Friday night over Florida
Tech, 9-4. The Tars (20-13, 4-6) got a big boost of offense, taking
advantage of three Panther errors and leaving just five men on
base. Junior starting pitcher David Nathanson gave Rollins 7.1
strong innings to gain his team leading fourth victory on the year.
The win was especially sweet for the Tars as they avenged a 8-0
loss to starter Jay Crouse and the Panthers in the first game of
the year.
'
The
Tars were led offensively by sophomore designated hitter Steve
Mannenbach. Mannenbach went 3-4 on the night with a run scored and
three RBI. Junior shortstop Ryan McKenzie went 2-4 with a run
scored, two doubles, and two runs batted in. Freshman outfielder
Anthony Soto went 2-3 with two runs scored. And sophomore first
baseman Stefano Foggi went 1-3 with two runs scored, and his first
home run of the season.
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Florida Tech was led by senior first baseman Devin Hopkins who went
2-5 with a run scored. Junior designated hitter Eamonn Powers went
1-5 with two runs scored and a RBI. Junior starting pitcher Jay
Crouse had a tough night. He gave up eight runs only four of which
were earned over 6.2 innings pitched. It was a far cry from his
first outing against the Tars when he gave up just two hits over
seven innings.
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Junior starting pitcher David Nathanson pitched very well for the
Tars. Nathanson worked 7.1 innings giving up four earned runs on
ten hits while striking out four. Nathanson gave up just one run in
the first six innings. He tired down the stretch and was touched up
for three in the eighth inning before being removed for reliever
Rob Cloar.
'
Both
starters had the opposing line-ups confused out of the gate.
Nathanson and Crouse pitched scoreless ball through the first three
innings. Florida Tech was the first to break through in the top of
the fourth inning. The Panthers scattered three hits plating one in
the inning. But the Tars were quick to respond in the bottom half
of the inning. Ryan McKenzie knocked in Anthony Soto with a double
to left center. Steve Mannenbach followed with a RBI double of his
own down the right field line. The Tars then piled on three more
runs on two Panther throwing errors.
'
The
Tars followed in the fifth with two more runs. Mannenbach was the
money man once again as he drove in both runs with a single up the
middle. Rollins got another run in the seventh on another RBI
double by Ryan McKenzie which put the game out of reach. The
Panthers tried to mount a comeback against a tiring David Nathanson
in the eighth. They put three runs on the board, but senior
reliever Rob Cloar shut the door in the eighth and ninth and the
Tars went on to win 9-4.
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Rollins will be back in action on Saturday, April 1 as they will
host the double-header finale of the series against Florida Tech in
Alfond Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.
