WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 17, 2007) ' The
Rollins baseball team topped Bryant in a slugfest, beating the
non-conference opponent 12-9 in the opening game of a weekend
series on Saturday night at Alfond Stadium.' The Tars improved to
5-4 with the win, and the Bulldogs dropped to 0-2.
The Tars were led on offense by sophomore catcher Jason Cutlip,
who went 3-5 with a homerun, three runs scored, and four RBI.'
Joining Cutlip in the offensive barrage were junior leftfielder
Mike Crane (3-4, two runs scored, two RBI), senior third baseman
Gene Howard (3-4, one run, one RBI), and junior centerfielder Corey
Whiting (4-5, three runs).' Senior right-hander David Nathanson
(3-0) picked up the win in seven innings of work, striking out
three while allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks.'
Freshman reliever Robbie Pagano picked up his first save of the
year.
Bulldogs cleanup hitter Mike Rocco led the team with a 4-5
night, scoring one run and driving in two.' Bryant starter Luke
Cowan (0-1) was credited with the loss, surrendering eight runs,
six earned, in his five innings of work.
Rollins got on the board quick, scoring three in the opening
frame.' A walk by leadoff man Gary Martoccio and three consecutive
singles by Whiting, Howard, and Crane opened the evening for the
Tars, and they were just starting.' Whiting scored on a sacrifice
fly by Crane in the third, and the Tars put four runs on the board
in the fifth and sixth innings.' Cutlip and freshman second baseman
Ryan Luker each had two-run singles in the fifth inning, and
Cutlip's long fly came in the following inning after a two-run
double by sophomore rightfielder Jesse More.
Bryant rallied to close the gap in the eighth inning, scoring
seven, only one of which was earned, off sophomore reliever Mark
Jigarjian.' The Bulldogs took advantage of six singles and two
errors, but Pagano entered the game to put out the fire.' The
freshman right-hander struck out two while allowing one hit and two
walks in his one and two thirds innings of work.
Rollins will return to Alfond Stadium on Sunday, February 18 at
7:00 p.m. for the second game of the series.' Fans can listen to
all the action live on the Tars Sports Network at www.RollinsSports.com.
