WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 25, 2007) ' A
two-run homerun by junior first baseman Stefano Foggi in the bottom
of the ninth tied the Rollins baseball team's non-conference game
against Bentley College at Alfond Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and
freshman second baseman Ryan Luker gave the Tars the 11-9 win two
batters later with a walk-off two-run blast over the left field
wall.' Rollins won its sixth straight game and swept its second
straight series, improving to 10-4 overall, while Bentley fell to
1-6 with the loss.
The ball was flying out of Harper Shepherd Field on the warm
afternoon, as Rollins had four homeruns on the day.' Luker's
game-winning homer in the ninth was his second round-tripper of the
day, as he had a solo shot in the sixth, giving him a team-leading
three in the season.' Sophomore catcher Jason Cutlip continued his
hot streak, going 4-5 with a homerun and two RBI, and he also has
three homeruns this year.' Junior left fielder Mike Crane finished
his weekend with another fine showing at the plate, going 4-5 with
two runs and one RBI.' Also contributing on offense were sophomore
designated hitter Anthony Soto (3-4, stolen base) and junior center
fielder Corey Whiting (2-4, two runs).
Freshman right-hander Marc Hewett got the start for Rollins, and
he allowed six runs on eight hits and one walk in five and two
thirds innings of work.' Sophomore reliever Michael Eppich (2-1)
pitched a scoreless ninth inning, earning his second win out of the
bullpen.' Freshman Dean Reinke and sophomore Mike Stopperich also
saw time out of the bullpen for the Tars, and they combined to
pitch two innings while allowing three runs.
Designated hitter Garrett Stenhouse starred on offense for the
Falcons, going 2-4 with two runs, two RBI, a double, and a
homerun.' Starter Tim Cadran lasted five innings, surrendering five
runs on 10 hits.' Jarrod Marchesi (1-1) picked up the loss for
Bentley, allowing six runs in three and one third innings out of
the bullpen.
The back-and-forth affair started in the first when Rollins went
ahead with a 3-0 lead.' Junior third baseman Gary Martoccio tripled
to lead off the inning, and he came around to score on a sacrifice
fly by sophomore right fielder Jesse More.' Foggi drew a bases
loaded walk for the second run of the inning, and Cutlip singled
home the third run.' Hewett held the Falcons hitless through the
first three innings, but Bentley started chipping away in the
fourth.' Stenhouse homered in the fourth to get the Falcons on the
board, and right fielder Brett Damato singled a run home in the
fifth.' Bentley then rallied for four runs in the sixth, taking a
lead they would not relinquish until the ninth.' Back-to-back
homers by Cutlip and Luker in the bottom of the sixth narrowed the
lead to one, but Bentley came back with three more runs in the
eighth.
The wild bottom of the ninth started with a single to right
field by More, and Whiting and Crane followed with singles as
well.' After Crane drove in the first run with his single, Marchesi
balked in the second run, making the score 9-7 in favor of the
Falcons.' Soto singled to extend the inning, and after pinch runner
Kevin Schnacke was picked off first, Foggi shot one over the right
field wall to tie the game at nine.' Cutlip kept the rally going
with an infield single, and Luker followed with the final blow, a
high-arching two-run homerun over the left field wall.
Rollins will try to keep their momentum going in a tough
non-conference match-up against the defending NCAA Division II
Champion Tampa Spartans at Alfond Stadium on Tuesday, February 27.'
First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and fans can listen to all
of the action live on the Tars Sports Network at www.RollinsSports.com.
