WINTER PARK, Fla. –
Junior outfielder Taylor Ferguson drove in four runs
including a two-run homer in the sixth, to guide the Rollins
College baseball team to a decisive 12-0 victory over visiting
Stonehill, Friday evening at Alfond Stadium.
Rollins (10-6) picked up its second-straight shutout, while the
Skyhawks (0-1) were held to just six hits in their season
opener.
Following Ferguson's 2-for-3 performance were five other hitters
who had multiple hits. Bryan Bennett registered a double and a
triple in his pair, while Shortstop Justin
Yount recorded his first triple of the season in a 2-for-4
effort with two runs scored.
On the mound for Rollins was Stephen
Hiscock (4-1), who went seven innings allowing just four hits
and one walk. A native of Naugatuck, Conn., Hiscock lowered his
ERA to 3.16 as he picked up his team-high fourth win of the
season. Newcomer Steven Gropler pitched an inning of relief along
with Mark Jigarjian to close out the game. Gropler
made his sixth appearance, while Jigarjian made his 2009 debut.
Stonehill starter Nick Peters (0-1) was dealt the loss after giving
up five runs, one earned, in 3.2 innings of work. Matt Olson, Greg
Marakovits and Michael Von Stein finished up the contest for the
Skyhawks each surrendering at least one run.
Rollins was unable to get its bats going early as they were held
scoreless for the first two innings. In the third, the Tars broke
the scoreless tie when Ferguson reached on a walk and scored on the
Bennett double.
From that point on it would be all Tars as they scored in every
inning.
With a 1-0 advantage, the Tars received four runs in the bottom of
the fourth after registering one hit and capitalizing on a
Stonehill error. Catcher Ben
Hewett led off the frame with a chopper to second base, but
after fielding it cleanly, the Skyhawk's Mitch Davis was unable to
complete the throw. Rollins made it count after a Jesse
More reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a
Eugene Martinez single through the right side.
With one out, John Avanzino reached on an RBI fielder's choice
that scored More from third. The two-out rally came into effect as
the Tars added three more runs in the fourth. Second baseman Josh
Band hit an infield single out-hustling the throw. Yount
followed with a blooper to right field to score Avanzino, which
also advanced Band to third. After a Yount stolen base, Ferguson
also singled to right scoring both Band and Yount.
Rollins added a run in the fifth before tacking on a pair of runs
in the sixth. Leading 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Yount
started the frame with a triple, a blast over the center fielder's
head. With no outs and a runner on third, Ferguson roped a home
run to dead center to cap the scoring.
After adding another lone run in the seventh, Rollins blistered the
defense with its hot bats scoring three more runs in the eighth.
Bennett led off the inning with a triple to right, which preceded a
Ryan Luker single, scoring Bennett. Luker moved
to second on a wild pitch and was driven home on a Ryan
Harvey double to right. Harvey eventually reached home on a
double play ground out after advancing on a wild pitch.
Rollins returns to the diamond, Sunday March 8 for another
non-conference showdown at 2:30 p.m. versus American International
at Alfond Stadium.
