WINTER PARK , Fla. (March 4, 2006) The Rollins College baseball
team dropped both games of a double header Saturday to the #8 team
in the nation, Tampa 4-2 and 5-1. The Tars (10-8) could only muster
five runs in the three game series against the Spartans (13-3). In
the two games on Saturday, the Spartan pitchers combined for 16
strikeouts and only 13 hits given up in 16 innings of pitching.
'
The
Tars were led offensively in the first game by freshman right
fielder Tyler Hartman. Hartman got two hits for the second straight
game, as he went 2-4 on the evening. Sophomore second baseman, Gary
Martoccio went 1-2 on the day with two walks, one RBI, and one run
scored. Senior starter Eduardo Chile went eight innings, giving up
10 hits and three earned runs while striking out four. Chile did
not allow a run until the fifth inning and was chased out only
after giving up two runs in the eighth.
'
The
Tars got the scoring started early with a run in the first on a
Brent Magnuson RBI fielder's choice. They would not score again
until the seventh. The Spartans first got on the board in the fifth
on a Roberto Mena RBI single. The Tars had an excellent opportunity
in the sixth inning slip through their fingers. The Tars had two on
with one out and left both on. Tampa took advantage of a tiring
Chile from there as they got two off of him in the eighth inning.
The Spartans would tack on an insurance run in the ninth to take
the game 4-2.
'
The
Tars were led offensively in the second game by junior third
baseman, Gene Howard. Howard went 2-3 on the night. Sophomore
second baseman Gary Martoccio scored the team's only run and went
0-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Junior starter Mario Lombardo
gave up five runs on eight hits while striking out four in five
innings pitched. Lombardo cruised through the first four innings,
but was touched up for five runs in the fifth.
'
In
the second game, the Tars got the scoring started once again with a
Gary Martoccio run on a pass ball. But that would be all the Tars
offense could put together against the powerful combination of
Spartans, Nick Peterson and Craig Benner. Peterson and Benner
combined for nine strike-outs while only giving up seven hits and
no earned runs. The Spartans got all of their runs in the fifth
inning off of Tars' starter Mario Lombardo. Lee Cruz crushed a
three-run shot to left and Orlando Rosales followed with a solo
shot to nearly the exact same spot. The Tars bats couldn't respond
and the Spartans would go on to win 5-1.
'
This
series was the beginning of Sunshine State Conference play for both
schools. The Tars are now 0-4 against the Spartans this season.
'
Rollins will be back in
action on Monday, March 6 when they will battle the University of
Pittsburgh at Alfond Stadium. The game is part of the 58 th Annual
Rollins College Baseball Week. Boston College , Bethune-Cookman,
Pittsburgh , Sacred Heart, Saint Joseph 's and Rollins will all
participate in this year's event.
