TAMPA, Fla. –
Senior Bryan Bennett recorded his 20th double of the
season to finish 3-for-5 in an 8-2 loss to No. 19 Tampa, Friday
evening at University of Tampa Field.
Bennett is one double shy of tying the Rollins' single-season mark
of 21. He added a pair of singles, an RBI and a run scored to
round out the day. Bennett is now hitting .370 with 60 hits to
lead the team.
Following Bennett with multiple hits was fellow senior Jesse
More and junior transfer John
Avanzino who added two hits apiece.
The Tars registered nine hits in the contest to draw even with
Tampa's nine. Rollins tallied eight singles and a double in the
effort.
On the mound for the Tars was Marc
Hewett (3-2) who was making his 2009 Friday night debut. The
Framingham, Mass., native went five innings allowing eight runs,
seven earned, while striking out three. Hewett was relieved in
the sixth when Andrew Loynaz pitched the remaining three
innings, giving up one hit and two walks in the appearance.
For the Spartans, Danny Keefe (4-4) earned his fourth victory of
the season going 5.2 innings allowing seven hits and an unearned
run. Rick Hudson made his first 2009 appearance closing out the
sixth, before Max Krueter earned his second save of the season
pitching effectively in the final three innings.
The Tars got on the board after trailing 3-0 in the third with a
Bennett RBI-single. After chopping an infield two-out single,
Bennett reached safely at first allowing enough time for Justin
Yount to score from second.
Tampa answered in the bottom of the third with a Steven Broschofsky
two-run homer to right field to increase the Spartan's lead to
5-1. After adding two runs in the fourth and another run in the
fifth, the Tars cut the deficit in the seventh as Bennett scored
when Ryan Luker hit into a double play.
The Tars and Spartan return to the diamond to conclude the
three-game series, Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
