MIAMI SHORES, Fla. (February 29, 2008) ' After
a five-run bottom of the ninth by host Barry University, the
Rollins baseball team held on for a 12-11 win on the road in the
Tars' first Sunshine State Conference game of the year on Friday
night.' Rollins improved to 11-2-1 overall and 1-0 in SSC play with
the win, while Barry fell to 9-7, 0-1.
The Tars opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third
after a double by senior first baseman Stefano Foggi and an RBI
single by senior second baseman Gary Martoccio.' Rollins added four
runs in the fourth, starting with three straight singles by
sophomore shortstop Ryan Luker, senior left fielder Mike Crane, and
junior designated hitter Bryan Bennett.' Sophomore Ben Hewett then
drove in one on an RBI single to right field, and Foggi followed up
with a two-run double.
Barry chipped away at the lead with one run in each of the
fourth and fifth innings, but a six-run Rollins outburst in the
sixth gave the Tars an 11-2 lead.' The first run came in on a wild
pitch, and senior center fielder Corey Whiting and Luker brought
home the next two on RBI singles.' The Buccaneers' control problems
continued, as another run came home on a wild pitch, but a double
play ball ended the inning with the bases loaded.
Barry scored a third run off senior Rollins starter Mario
Lombardo in the bottom of the sixth, and the Bucs' took advantage
of poor fielding by the Tars to score three more in the seventh,
narrowing the deficit to five.' An insurance run by Rollins on an
RBI single by senior third baseman Gene Howard in the top of the
ninth proved crucial, as Barry showed life once again in the ninth
inning.
Sophomore reliever Chad Giannuzzi pitched a perfect eighth for
the Tars, but he walked the first three batters of the ninth,
leading to fellow sophomore Robbie Pagano taking the mound.' The
Bucs then scored two on the Tars' sixth and seventh errors of the
evening in Pagano's first batter.' First baseman Carlos Gomez
stepped to the plate in the next at bat and homered to center
field, driving in three more and bringing Barry within one run of
the Tars.' Pagano was able to retire the next two hitters, and
after a single by shortstop Nick Shaw, third baseman Brett Rossi
struck out looking to clinch the win for Rollins.
Lombardo (4-0) picked up his fourth straight win, lasting seven
innings for the Tars.' Lombardo allowed six runs, two earned, on 10
hits and one walk while striking out five.' Giannuzzi and Pagano
combined to give up five runs, four earned, in the final two
innings.
Rollins put up a season-high 19 hits, and every starting
position player pitched in at least one.' Crane led the way,
hitting a perfect'4-4 with a double, one run scored, and a walk.'
Foggi also had a great day at the plate, going 3-4 with two
doubles, two RBI, and three runs scored.' Bennett, Hewett, Howard,
Luker, and Martoccio also finished with multi-hit days for the
Tars.
Barry starter Ray Rhoads (3-1) was credited with his first loss
of the year, allowing nine runs through five innings.' Bobby Riley
gave up three runs through the last four innings on the mound for
the Bucs, and Gomez and right fielder John Servidio tallied three
hits apiece.
Rollins will finish its series at Barry with a doubleheader on
Saturday, March 1 starting at 12:00 p.m.' Fans can listen to an
audio broadcast of the doubleheader at Barry's official athletics
Web site, www.GoBarryBucs.com.
