WINTER PARK, Fla. –
Twelve runs in the seventh inning ignited a lopsided victory, as
the Rollins baseball team eased past the Bentley Falcons, 15-4,
Sunday afternoon at Alfond Stadium.
Rollins (5-3) out-hit the Falcons (0-2), 21-9 as six batters
registered multiple hits in the game as center fielder Taylor
Ferguson and designated hitter Bryan
Bennett tied a game-best four hits apiece.
Shortstop Vinnie Eruzione, center fielder Brett Damato and left
fielder Chris Hardy went 2-for-4 to pace the Falcons.
The game remained close until the Tars poured in 12 runs in the
bottom of the seventh inning to seal its fifth victory of the
season. Rollins collected 12 hits in the frame and capitalized on
two Bentley errors. The Falcons finished with six total errors in
the contest.
Prior to the seventh inning onslaught, the Falcons and Tars
remained tied for the majority of the game. In the first,
Bentley's leadoff hitter, Eruzione, began with a single toward the
deeper half of the infield to record the hit. Starting Tars'
pitcher Tim Griffin forced the ensuing batter to ground
into a double play to record the second out.
As the scoring threat appeared to be over, the Falcons rattled off
three-straight singles and eventually scored on a Griffin wild
pitch to take an early 2-0 lead.
In the following half inning, Rollins countered with a pair of runs
to even the game back to two. Back-to-back singles to left field
led off the inning as shortstop Justin
Yount and right fielder Jesse
More got things started for Rollins.
After a Ferguson fly out, Bennett singled to score a hustling Yount
from second to record the first run. Junior Ryan
Luker struck out during the next at bat, but first baseman John
Avanzino tied the game with a double down the left field
line.
Even at two, Bentely threatened to score in the second after a pair
of singles with one out, but Griffin struck out the next batter,
first baseman Jason Cusumano, and got left fielder Chris Hardy to
ground out to leave the runners stranded.
The Falcons tacked on another run in the fourth as a double by
Brett Damato and an Eruzione walk got things started for Bentley.
Cusumano then slapped a dribbler down the first base line and was
thrown out by relief pitcher Marc
Hewett to advance the runners. Hardy then drilled a shot to
right field for the sacrifice fly.
An inning and a half later the Tars again tied the game
capitalizing on a pair of Bentley errors. Yount reached on an
errant throw by the third baseman and was moved over on the
Ferguson single to left field during the next at bat. A failed
pickoff attempt by the Falcon's catcher, Mike DeCoste, allowed for
Yount to score from second to tie the game.
The game remained tied for two innings until the seventh. With the
bases loaded on no outs, Avanzino drilled a two-RBI single to right
center, which allowed Scott Chase to record the Tars' only home
run in the contest, a three-run shot he blasted over the right
field wall. With an 8-3 Rollins added on seven more runs to clinch
the victory.
Avanzino finished the game going 2-of-6 with three RBIs and two
runs scored, while Chase had four RBIs and two runs scored as he
also went 2-of-6. Yount registered the game-high three runs
scored, while third baseman Luker
increased his hitting streak to seven games, a team-best.
Marc Hewett earned his first victory of the
season as he pitched five innings and allowed two hits and one
run. Andrew Loynaz and Dean
Reinke closed out the game for Rollins both going one
inning.
Starters Jarrod Marchesi and Griffin
received no decisions for their effort as Marchesi went six innings
surrendering three runs, two earned on seven hits for Bentley.
Matt Sherman picked up the loss for the Falcons giving up 12 runs,
with only four earned.
Rollins and the Falcons will conclude their three-game series,
Monday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.
