WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 15, 2007) ' Led by a
consistent lineup and steady pitching from two freshmen hurlers,
the Rollins baseball team defeated Merrimack College 15-2 on
Thursday afternoon at Alfond Stadium in the team's last game in the
59th Annual Rollins College Baseball Week.' The Tars improved to
17-9 overall and finished Baseball Week 4-1, and the Warriors
dropped to 2-7 with the loss.
Freshman third baseman Max Pavy made the most of his second
start of the year, going 3-5 at the plate with three runs and one
RBI.' Also contributing to the Tars on offense were junior left
fielder Mike Crane (1-3, two runs, three RBI), senior shortstop
Ryan McKenzie (2-3, double, one run, one RBI), sophomore designated
hitter Anthony Soto (1-3, homerun, one run, three RBI), and junior
center fielder Corey Whiting (2-4, two runs, two RBI).' Freshman
pinch hitter Scott Chase also powered the Tars late in the game
with a booming three-run homerun over the right field wall.'
Rollins starter Robbie Pagano (1-0) gave up just one run through
six innings on his way to the win.' The freshman right-hander
allowed four hits and six walks, but he was able to work out of
jams throughout the game.' Freshman left-hander Bobby Coster
finished the game for the Tars, giving up just one run over the
final three innings for his first save of the year.
Second baseman Brendan Pyburn was the only player for Merrimack
to have more than one hit, as he went 2-4 with one RBI.' Warriors
starter Ryan O'Rourke (0-1) gave up six runs, one earned, in three
and one third innings on his way to the loss.
With the scored tied at zero in the bottom of the third, Rollins
put five runs on the board to take the lead.' McKenzie drove home
the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly, and Crane singled
the second run home three batters later.' Soto then stepped to the
plate and lined one over the left-center field wall for a three-run
homerun, giving the Tars a 5-0 lead.' Rollins scored one more in
the fourth and two more in the sixth, and the Tars started to pile
on with seven more in the seventh.' Rollins used singles by junior
first baseman Stefano Foggi, freshman second baseman Ryan Luker,
Pavy, McKenzie, and Whiting to start things off, and Chase put the
exclamation point onto the rally with his three-run shot.
The Tars will return to Sunshine State Conference play on
Saturday, March 17 when they play host to Barry University at 7:00
p.m. at Alfond Stadium.' For the latest on all Rollins athletics,
go to www.RollinsSports.com.
