WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 8, 2008) '
Sophomore right fielder Phil Hendricks went 3-4 with a grand slam
and five RBI in the Rollins baseball team's 13-4 win over NAIA
opponent St. Thomas in the 2008 home opener at Alfond Stadium on
Friday night.' The Tars improved to 2-2 with the win while the
Bobcats dropped their first game of the year, falling to 1-1.
Hendricks' slam in the fourth highlighted the early run for the
Tars, scoring all 13 runs in the first five innings.' Senior
right-hander Mario Lombardo (1-0) picked up his first win of the
season, allowing just one run through seven innings.' Raudel
Alfonso (0-1) was credited with the loss for St. Thomas.
The Tars' first two runs came in the opening inning thanks for
an infield RBI single by senior designated hitter Gary Martoccio
and an RBI groundout by senior left fielder Mike Crane.' Rollins
then blew it open with five in the second.' The first run came on a
bases loaded walk by senior center fielder Corey Whiting, and two
batters later senior third baseman Gene Howard drove in two with a
double into the right field gap.' A sacrifice fly by sophomore
shortstop Ryan Luker and a triple to the wall by Crane gave the
Tars a commanding 7-0 lead going into the third.
St. Thomas plated their first run on an RBI single by Nestor
Rincon in the top of the third, but Rollins came back with one in
the bottom of the inning.' Hendricks' slam, a towering shot over
the left field wall, brought four more in for Rollins in the
fourth, and the sophomore drove in a fifth run on a double over the
center fielder the following inning.' Lombardo left the game after
the seventh, allowing just one run on seven hits and one walk.'
Junior reliever Mark Jigarjian pitched the final two innings for
the Tars, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk.
The Tars will return to Alfond Stadium for the series-ending
doubleheader against the Bobcats on Saturday, February 9.' First
pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and fans can listen to all the
action on the Citizens Bank of Florida Tars Sports Network at www.RollinsSports.tv.
