DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 29, 2008) ' In a
non-conference game at NAIA opponent Embry-Riddle on Tuesday night,
the Rollins baseball team could not hold a four-run lead through
five and a half innings and eventually fell in an 8-7 loss.' The
Tars dropped to 28-22-1 with the loss, while the Eagles improved to
39-13 with the win.
Senior center fielder Corey Whiting's solo homerun got Rollins
on the board in the top of the first, but Embry-Riddle came back to
tie it in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by catcher Eric
Ogden.' The Tars re-took the lead in the third with three runs
thanks in part to an Embry-Riddle error, giving Rollins a 4-1
lead.' The Eagles chipped away with one run in the third and one in
the fourth to come within one, but the Tars broke out to a four-run
lead in the top of the sixth on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch
followed by an infield single and a walk.
Embry-Riddle's comeback in the bottom of the sixth started on a
fielding error by Rollins to start the inning.' Another error three
batters later scored the first two runs, and Colin Gray drove in
the third run of the inning.' After the Tars were retired in order
in the top of the seventh, the Eagles rallied in the bottom of the
inning.' With the bases loaded, sophomore reliever Chad Giannuzzi
walked in the tying run, and fellow sophomore Michael Prusak walked
in the go-ahead run when he relieved Giannuzzi.
Embry-Riddle reliever Phillip Reamy entered the game in the
sixth with the bases loaded, and he struck out two batters to
escape the inning unscathed.' He then struck out two more in the
seventh to make four in a row, and he allowed just one batter to
reach before being relieved in the ninth.' Reamy (1-0) earned the
win, and closer Aaron Varnum picked up his 11th save with a
strikeout of the last Rollins batter.
Giannuzzi (0-3) was credited with the loss after allowing six
runs, three earned, in his three and two thirds innings pitched.'
Sophomore Marc Hewett got the start for Rollins, allowing two runs
on eight hits in the first three innings.' Prusak finished the game
for Rollins, walking three batters and allowing one hit in his one
and one third innings.
Senior third baseman Gene Howard had another fine day at the
plate for the Tars, hitting 3-5 with one run and one RBI.' Senior
left fielder Mike Crane went 2-4 with a walk, and Whiting had two
walks and two runs scored to go along with his team-leading eighth
homerun of the year.
Rollins will conclude the 2008 regular season in a Sunshine
State Conference series at Eckerd starting on Friday, May 2 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.
