WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 18, 2008) ' Four
unearned runs proved to be the difference in the Rollins baseball
team's 8-7 extra inning loss to No. 26 Lynn in Sunshine State
Conference action on Friday night at Alfond Stadium.' The Tars
dropped to 24-19-1 overall and 5-10 in conference play, while the
first place Fighting Knights improved to 30-13, 10-4.
Rollins brought in the first run of the game in the third inning
on a squeeze bunt by senior first baseman Stefano Foggi, bringing
in senior second baseman Gary Martoccio from third.' Lynn responded
in the next half inning as first baseman Joe Arminio hit a
three-run homerun over the center field wall, giving the Fighting
Knights a 3-1 lead the fourth.' Arminio picked up his fourth RBI of
the day on a single through a drawn-in Rollins infield in the
sixth, extending the Lynn lead to 4-1.
The first costly error for the Tars defense came in the seventh,
leading to two more Lynn runs.' Right fielder Jason Ten Eyck hit a
one-out single and advanced to second on a groundout, and he came
around to score in the next at bat when shortstop Chad Crowe's
bouncer got by Martoccio at second.' Third baseman Douglas Toro
then attempted to reach base on a bunt, and Rollins reliever Marty
Cornish overthrew the first baseman allowing Crowe to score from
second.
The Tars then rallied for five runs over the next three innings
to tie the game at six and send it into extra innings.' The
three-run seventh started when sophomore shortstop Ryan Luker
doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning.' Junior
designated hitter Bryan Bennett then hit a one-out double to bring
Luker home.' Junior catcher Eugene Martinez followed with a bouncer
up the middle to score Bennett, and Martinez reached second on a
single by Martoccio.' After a passed ball moved runners into
scoring position, junior right fielder Jesse More brought in the
next run on a bouncer to the second baseman.
A Rollins run in the eighth on a double play brought the Tars
within one heading to the ninth, and Martoccio drew a one-out walk
to start the ninth inning rally.' Martoccio reached second on a
groundout, and he then scored on senior pinch hitter Kevin
Schnacke's single to left field.
Lynn reached base on an error by Martinez in the top of the
10th, and they rallied for two runs to take an 8-6 lead.' Luker was
hit by a pitch with one out in bottom of the 10th, and senior left
fielder Mike Crane followed with an RBI triple to deep center
field.' Crane was on third with one out representing the tying run,
but the Tars stranded him with a strikeout and a flyout.
Rollins starter Matt White lasted five and one third innings,
allowing the first four Lynn runs on four hits and one walk.'
Cornish (2-2) was credited with the loss despite pitching three and
two thirds inning and not allowing an earned run.' He allowed four
unearned runs on four hits and no walks while striking out three.'
Sophomore right-hander Robbie Pagano pitched the final inning
without a hit.
Martoccio led Rollins at the plate, hitting 3-3 with a double,
walk, and two runs scored.' Luker also had a fine day, hitting 2-4
with a double and two runs while extending his hitting streak to 16
games.
Lynn starter Craig Sheets lasted six and two thirds innings,
allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and one walk.'
Reliever Ryan Additon (2-0) picked up the win, allowing two Rollins
runs in the final three innings.' Arminio, Ten Eyck, and Toro had
multi-hit games for the Fighting Knights.
Rollins and Lynn will conclude the series with a doubleheader
starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 19.' Fans can listen to
all the action live on the Citizens Bank of Florida Tars Sports
Network at www.RollinsSports.tv.
