FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (April 12, 2008) ' In a
wild Sunshine State Conference doubleheader at Nova Southeastern on
Saturday afternoon, the Rollins baseball team lost Game One 7-5 and
won Game Two 8-7 to avoid the series sweep.' The Tars finished the
weekend with an overall record of 24-17-1 and an SSC mark of 5-9,
while the Sharks now stand at 24-16, 8-5.
Junior Eugene Martinez had the highlight of the day for Rollins,
hitting a two-out three-run pinch hit homerun to break a 5-5 tie in
the top of the seventh in Game Two, and it proved to be the
game-winner.' Senior left fielder Mike Crane also had a productive
day at the plate, hitting 3-7 with a homerun, double, two runs, and
three RBI.
Game One was back-and-forth, just like all three games in the
series.' Rollins took a 2-0 lead in the first, and Nova
Southeastern came back with one run in each of the second and third
innings off senior starter Mario Lombardo.' The Tars took the lead
in the fifth and added insurance runs in the sixth and eighth
innings, giving Lombardo a three-run cushion heading to the bottom
of the eighth.
NSU left fielder J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homerun to move the
Sharks within one, and designated hitter Pete Simon hit a two-run
blast off Lombardo two batters later to give them the lead.'
Lombardo (8-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing a
season-high seven runs through seven and two thirds innings while
striking out seven and walking two.
Zachary North (4-2) picked up his second relief win in as many
games, pitching three innings with one unearned run allowed.'
Closer Nick Carris pitched a perfect ninth inning for his ninth
save.
The Tars took a five-run lead through the first four and a half
innings in Game Two, thanks in part to Crane's two-run homerun in
the third and RBI double in the fifth.' Sophomore starter Marc
Hewett cruised through the first four, but NSU came back with a
five-run fifth, highlighted by first baseman Bryan Cook's grand
slam.
With the score tied at five in the seventh, Crane hit a one-out
single and stole second base.' Junior pinch hitter Bryan Bennett
then hit a groundball to the shortstop, and the shortstop tried to
catch Crane advancing to third on the play.' The throw was late,
putting runners on the corners with one out.' After a foul popup,
Martinez entered the game as a pinch hitter and drove one over the
wall in right center field, giving the Tars an 8-5 lead.
Hewett started the bottom of the seventh but allowed the first
two batters to reach base.' Sophomore left-hander Danny Clark came
out of the bullpen to face Cook, but Cook's end-of-the-bat infield
single scored the runner from third.' Sophomore closer Robbie
Pagano then entered the game, and after a run scored on a double
play, he closed out the game to clinch the 8-7 win.
Hewett (6-4) earned the win, lasting six-plus innings with seven
runs on six hits and five walks.' Pagano earned his fifth save of
the year, pitching the last inning with one hit, one walk, and one
strikeout.' Carris (2-2) took the loss for NSU in Game Two, giving
up the three-run homerun in his one inning.
Rollins will face Saint Leo in non-conference action at home on
Tuesday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m.' Fans can listen to all the action
live on the Citizens Bank of Florida Tars Sports Network at www.RollinsSports.tv.
Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)
