WINTER PARK, Fla. –
A three-run home run by left fielder Scott
Chase in the fifth inning solidified a Rollins baseball, 6-2
victory over visiting Eckerd in Sunshine State Conference action,
Friday evening at Alfond Stadium.
The win snaps a Tars' seven-game losing skid as they improve to
23-22 on the season and 6-13 in conference play. The Tritons fall
to 21-27 overall and 4-15 in the SSC.
Junior starter Marc Hewett (4-2) went the distance for the Tars
allowing eight hits and a walk, while fanning six. He gave up a
run in the second and third innings before holding Eckerd scoreless
in the final six frames. The Framingham, Mass., native recorded
the first nine-inning complete-game of the season for a Rollins
starter. Fellow junior Tim Griffin has tossed three seven-inning
complete-games in 2009.
Offensively, Bryan Bennett and Ryan
Luker led the way for Rollins with a pair of base hits.
Bennett also tallied two runs and two RBIs, including a two-run
blast to centerfield in the third. Bennett is now second on the
team with a .371 batting average and owns a team-high 66 hits.
After falling behind 2-0, Hewett received run support in the bottom
of the third after Josh Band singled to lead off the inning.
Ryan
Luker reached on a fielder's choice, but an error on Eckerd's
second baseman, Chris Blydell, trying to throw-out Band at second,
allowed the freshman to score from second. After a ground out,
Bennett drilled the Philip Weylie pitch to dead-away center, his
fourth of the season.
The Tars were held in check in the fourth before securing the
victory in the fifth. With one out and a one-run lead, Luker
reached on another error by Blydell and advanced to third on an
errant throw by Weylie on a failed pickoff attempt. Bennett went
to first on a four-pitch walk to allow Scott
Chase to blast a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left center.
The Tritons reached base twice in the next 14 at bats to suffer
its second-straight loss.
Weylie (0-5) was dealt the loss remaining winless on the season,
despite going eight innings and allowing six runs with two being
earned. He also struck out three, while walking one to finish his
start.
Designated hitter Joe Dabah recorded the game-best three hits as he
was 3-for-4. Shortstop Matt Heller was 2-for-4 with a run scored
to highlight the Triton's offensively. Eckerd didn't record an RBI
in the game as their first run scored on a double play and Heller
scored on a wild pitch.
Rollins finished with six total hits, while the Tritons registered
eight, but committed five errors and hit into two double plays.
Eckerd and the Tars return to wrap up the series with a
doubleheader, Saturday, April 25 for a first-pitch slated for 1
p.m.
