ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (May 2, 2008) ' Senior
center fielder Corey Whiting homered in his fourth straight game,
marking his fifth homerun in the last seven games, in the Rollins
baseball team's 9-7 Sunshine State Conference loss at Eckerd on
Friday night.' The Tars fell to 28-23-1 overall and 8-13 in SSC
play, while the Tritons improved to 15-33, 3-19.
Rollins scored the first runs of the game in the fourth when
senior third baseman Gene Howard led off the inning with a double
and scored on a groundout by junior designated hitter Bryan
Bennett.' Senior shortstop Kevin Schnacke brought in the next run
on a sacrifice fly, and the Tars scored a third on an error by the
center fielder.' Eckerd responded with three runs in the bottom of
the inning to tie the game at 3-3.
Senior first baseman Stefano Foggi singled to lead off the
fourth, and junior right fielder Jesse More followed with a
hit-by-pitch.' Howard then doubled down the right field line to
score Foggi, and More came around on an error by the right
fielder.' Whiting extended the Tars' lead to three with a sacrifice
fly one batter later.' Not to be outdone, the Tritons came back
with three runs once again to tie the score 6-6 entering the sixth
inning.
Eckerd took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the
sixth on a failed pickoff attempt by Rollins starter Mario
Lombardo, and the Tritons continued to rally for two more runs to
take a 9-6 lead.' Whiting's solo shot in the top of the seventh
narrowed the Tritons' lead to two.
More started a ninth inning rally for the Tars with a single to
shallow center field.' Whiting then was hit by a pitch with one out
to put runners on first and second, but the runners were stranded
after a strikeout and a groundout, sending Eckerd home with the
win.
Lombardo (8-3) was credited with the loss while going the
distance for the Tars, allowing nine runs on 14 hits and three
walks in eight innings.' Howard's three hits, including his 16th
and 17th doubles of the year, improved his batting average to .413
for the season.' Whiting extended his team lead in homeruns with
his ninth of the year.
Phillip Weylie (7-5) picked up the complete game win for Eckerd,
allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks.' Left
fielder Joe Dabah led the Tritons at the plate, hitting 2-4 with
two runs and two RBI.
Rollins will finish the 2008 regular season with an SSC
doubleheader at Eckerd on Saturday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m.
