WINTER PARK, Fla. – Bryan
Bennett
's single in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a scoreless
tie before Ryan Luker's sacrifice fly to record the eventual
game-winning RBI as the Rollins baseball team edged the Saint Leo
Lions, 3-1 Friday evening at Alfond Stadium.
With the win, the Tars improve to 7-3 and 1-0 in the Sunshine State
Conference as Saint Leo falls to 1-9 and 0-1 in conference
action.
Transfer Stephen Hiscock (3-0) went seven innings allowing
five hits and one run with seven strikeouts to secure his third win
of the season and lowering his ERA to 3.78.
Relief pitcher Marc Hewett, making his fourth appearance, picked
up his first career save closing out the game in the final two
innings without surrendering a hit and striking out three Lion
batters.
For Saint Leo, Aaron Brandt (0-2) picked up his second loss of the
season going seven innings giving up two runs.
Neither team got anything going in the first few innings, but in
the top of third inning, the Lions threatened to score placing
runners on first and second with no outs. Catcher Jason Hamm led
off the inning with a single through the left side, before second
baseman JD Cook drew a walk.
Things got interesting on the following play when leadoff man Kyle
Hobbs roped a shot to Rollins' third baseman Luker, who caught the
line drive and tagged the runner that was on second before firing
the ball to first for the rare triple play.
Finally in the sixth Rollins got on the board when shortstop Justin
Yount laced a single to left field. Senior right fielder Jesse
More continued the rally with another single to left. Center
fielder Taylor Ferguson misplayed a bunt attempt to
record the first out of the inning on the ensuing at bat. With one
out, Bennett ripped a single through the right side of the infield,
scoring Yount. With runners on the corner and one out, Luker
crushed a shot to deep right that allowed More to score from
third.
Saint Leo retaliated in the top of the next inning when shortstop
Bobby Munoz started off the inning with a single and advanced to
second on a wild pitch. Munoz eventually scored on a Duncan
groundout to second after advancing to third on a groundball.
Leading 2-1, the Tars added an insurance run capitalizing on a
Lion's Aaron McLamar error at third base in the eighth inning.
Yount again led off with a single and moved over to second on a
More groundout. After a fly out, Bennett slapped a roller down the
third base line that McLamar mishandled, which scored Yount from
second.
A Silvis, Ill., native, Yount went 2-for-4 with two runs scored,
while catcher Ben Hewett was the only other Tar to record
multiple hits as he was 2-for-4 to increase his batting average to
a team-high .524. Luker continues to lead the team in RBIs as he
registered his 17th on the sacrifice fly.
The Tars and Lions will be back in action, Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3
p.m. for a doubleheader at Alfond Stadium.
