SAINT LEO, Fla. (April 8, 2006) The Rollins baseball team was swept
in a conference series for the second time this season, losing a
pair to Saint Leo on Saturday, 7-3 and 6-1. Rollins lost Friday
night to the Lions 6-4. The Tars (21-17, 5-10) starting pitchers
gave up 11 earned runs while logging just ten combined innings. The
Rollins line-up had difficulties against the Lions pitching staff
all weekend. The Rollins bats accumulated 11 hits and four runs
over the double-header. In the three game series, the Lions
pitching staff held the Tars to eight runs on 16 hits.
'
The
Tars were led offensively in the first game by senior outfielder
Brent Magnuson. Magnuson went 2-4 with two RBI and a double. Junior
third baseman Gene Howard went 2-5 with two runs scored and a
double. And sophomore designated hitter Kevin Schnacke went 1-3
with a walk and a RBI single.
'
Senior starter Eduardo Chile had a rough outing giving up six
earned runs over 4.2 innings. He is now 4-5 on the season. Freshman
Michael Eppich did a nice job in relief for the Tars. Eppich went
3.1 innings giving up one unearned run on one hit while striking
out one.
'
The
Lions started to give Chile trouble early in the bottom of the
first. Chile gave up a single, a four pitch walk, and then a
two-RBI double by Rhett Teller to put the Lions up 2-0. Saint Leo
was able to plate another run in the second inning. The center
fielder Matt Prowant got a one out single, and reached third on a
steal and a ground out. Prowant would later score on a Sean
VanGuilder come-backer that ricocheted off of Chile 's pitching
hand and into no-man's land for a RBI single. The unfortunate break
for the Tars made the game 3-0.
'
Saint Leo landed a knock-out punch in the bottom of the fifth
inning when second baseman Eric Mesa tattooed a Chile fastball over
the left field fence for a two-run homer to make it 5-0. The Lions
would load the bases later on in the inning with three hits in
their last four at-bats, thereby ending Chile 's afternoon.
Freshman Michael Eppich replaced Chile and the Lions were able to
plate another run when Eppich hit Prowant on the elbow making it a
6-0 ball game.
'
The
Tars were able to break through for a run against Wilson in the top
of the sixth inning. Gene Howard started the uprising with a
two-out double down the left field line. Anthony Soto reached base
on an error by the second baseman. And Brent Magnuson drove in
Howard with a RBI single through the right side of the infield to
make it 6-1.
'
Rollins tried to get even in the top of the eighth inning with
Jesse Wilson still in the game. Martoccio led off with a walk and
Howard followed with a single to right, putting men on first and
second with no one out. Brent Magnuson followed a batter later with
a RBI double to deep center field which scored Martoccio from
second to make it 6-2. The double also chased Wilson from the game.
The Lions replaced him with right hander Rich Hittel. Hittel
thought he was out of the inning as he struck out Mannenbach and
forced a ground out to the shortstop by Kevin Schnacke. However,
the shortstop Gonzalez's throw forced the first baseman off the
bag. Schnacke reached on the error while Howard scored from third,
and the Tars got a little closer at 6-3.
'
The
Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the inning as Saint Leo
got an unearned run. Prowant got a one out single, then advanced to
third with a stolen base and a throwing error by the catcher. He
would later score on a sacrifice fly to make the score 7-3. Hittel
took care of the Tars line-up in the ninth and the Lions held on to
win 7-3.
'
The
Tars were led offensively in the second game by sophomore first
baseman Stefano Foggi who went 2-3 with a RBI single. He was the
only Tar with multiple hits. Gary Martoccio went 1-2 with a sac
bunt. Gene Howard and Jesse More were the only other Tars to log
hits.
'
Junior starting pitcher Mario Lombardo didn't have his best stuff
on Saturday. Lombardo went 5.1 innings giving up five earned runs
on seven hits, striking out three walking one and hitting two
batters. Lombardo is now 4-4, and narrowly missed his third
complete game of the season.
'
The
Tars got the scoring started in the top of the second. Kevin
Schnacke drew a one out walk and then stole second base. First
baseman Steffano Foggi followed with a RBI single through the right
side, putting the Tars up 1-0.
'
The
Lions threatened in the bottom of the third inning. Lombardo loaded
the bases with one out by giving up a single, a hit batsman and a
walk. The Lions plated a run as first baseman Eric Spicer singled
off the right field wall. Rhett Teller followed with a two RBI
single over Gene Howard's head to put the Lions up 3-1.
'
The
Tars got something started in the top of the sixth inning. Jason
Cutlip reached base on a fielding error by the second baseman. Gary
Martoccio followed with a single to center, putting runners on
first and second with no one out. Peter Martinez got Tyler Hartman
to ground out to the first baseman on a bunt attempt and then was
lifted for Ryan Clark. Clark then got the Lions out of the inning
by getting Gene Howard to line into a double play to end the
inning.
'
The
Lions put the finishing touches on the sweep with a two run
home-run in the bottom of the sixth inning by Devon Cason off of
Mario Lombardo to give Saint Leo a 5-1 lead. The Lions would add an
unearned run later in the inning when Kyle Hobbs struck out but the
ball trickled away from the Tars' catcher and allowed the runner at
third to score. Saint Leo led 6-1 and went on to win by the same
score.
'
The Tars will return
home on Tuesday when they will host Embry-Riddle University in
Alfond Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.
