WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 19, 2008) ' Junior
Eugene Martinez continued his pinch hitting heroics in the Rollins
baseball team's doubleheader sweep of No. 26 Lynn on Saturday at
Alfond Stadium.' Martinez came off the bench to tie the score at
three in the Tars' 4-3 Game One win, and he delivered again in the
nightcap with a walk-off two-run pinch hit homerun to give Rollins
a 10-8 victory.' The Tars improved to 26-19-1 overall and 7-10 in
Sunshine State Conference play, dropping the first place Fighting
Knights to 30-15, 10-6.
The teams traded leads in Game One, as Lynn jumped out to a 1-0
lead in the first and the Tars responded with two runs in the
third.' The Fighting Knights took the lead again with two runs in
the fourth, and Martinez's pinch hit single in the sixth tied the
score at three.' With the score still tied in the bottom of the
ninth, Ryan Luker shot a single through the right side with senior
first baseman Stefano Foggi at second base.' Foggi headed for home
and was cut off at the plate by a strong throw by Lynn right
fielder Nicholas Bleau, but catcher Kyle Holloway misplayed the
ball, allowing Foggi to score the winning run.
Rollins senior starter Mario Lombardo held Lynn to three runs
through eight innings while striking out seven.' Sophomore Robbie
Pagano (1-1) pitched a perfect ninth inning and earned the win out
of relief.' Reliever Chris Snow (2-2) took the loss for Lynn.
Game Two was as wild a seven-inning game as one could have, as
the teams once again traded numerous leads.' Lynn scored two in the
second on a single by second baseman Rick Davis, but the Tars
responded with three in the bottom half of the frame, highlighted
by an RBI double by senior second baseman Gary Martoccio.' Lynn
tied the game at three in the top of the fifth on a Rollins error,
but a rally in the sixth inning gave the Tars a four-run lead going
into the final inning thanks to RBI singles from junior right
fielder Jesse More and senior third baseman Gene Howard.
Sophomore left-hander Danny Clark had entered the game in the
second in relief of sophomore starter Marc Hewett, and he was
cruising as the seventh inning began.' After a leadoff groundout,
Clark gave up a single to first baseman Joe Arminio and a two-run
homerun to left fielder Gabe MacDougall, putting the Fighting
Knights within two runs.' Sophomore right-hander Robbie Pagano then
entered the game with a two-run lead and two outs to go, but he
walked and hit a batter, leading to junior Michael Eppich taking
over on the mound.' Center fielder Jason Ten Eyck doubled to the
wall in left field to put Lynn within one, and the Fighting Knights
tied the game on a potential double play ball which got away from
the Tars middle infield.' Eppich then gave up a bases loaded walk
to give Lynn a one-run lead heading to the bottom of the
seventh.
After a strikeout to lead off the inning, senior center fielder
Corey Whiting homered to right field to tie the game at eight
apiece.' With a depleted bullpen, Lynn then chose to go with
right-hander Craig Sheets, the team's starting pitcher the night
before.' Freshman second baseman Harry Honeycutt reached base on an
error by the Lynn third baseman, and Martinez followed with his
second pinch hit homerun of the season to give the Tars the
doubleheader sweep.' Eppich (2-1) earned the Game Two win, and
Sheets (4-5) was credited with the loss.
Martinez finished the day batting .750 (9-12) this season as a
pinch hitter.' Junior designated hitter Bryan Bennett (4-6, one
run), Foggi (2-4, two runs, one RBI), Martoccio (2-5, double, two
runs, one RBI), More (3-6, one RBI), and Whiting (2-4, homerun,
three runs, one RBI) also had productive days at the plate.
Rollins will return to action at Alfond Stadium on Tuesday,
April 22 against non-conference opponent Embry-Riddle 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)
