WINTER PARK, Fla. -
The Rollins baseball team dropped their 2010 home opener to the
Bentley Falcons, 4-1 in a chilly non-conference contest, Saturday
evening at Alfond Stadium.
The Tars (2-3) were silenced by Bentley's (1-0) starting pitcher
Rob Finneran (1-0) who picked up the complete-game victory after
tossing 148 pitches. Finneran allowed four hits and one unearned
run in his 2010 debut.
For Rollins, Stephen Hiscock (0-1)
suffered the loss after going 7.2 innings and surrendering seven
hits and four runs with three walks. Brad
Renner came in and closed out the eighth before ending the
ninth to allow one hit and record one strike out in the
appearance.
"Stephen Hiscock pitched
exceptionally well for us today, and we had opportunities to score
late in the game, but just didn't execute," head coach Jon
Sjogren said. "Rob Finneran was spectacular for Bentley, he
tossed nearly 150 pitches and showed toughness and composure."
The Tar's four hits were scattered between Ben Hewett, Tony Brunetti, Joey
Manning and Josh Band. Rollins' lone
run occurred in the eighth after Hewett reached on a one-out
blooper into shallow right center field. Taylor Ferguson laced a
shot to the Falcon's shortstop that was misplayed to allow runners
on first and second. Another error by Bentley this time by the
second baseman, loaded the bases.
Designated hitter Scott Chase hit a sacrifice
fly on the ensuing at-bat to score Hewett from third to trim the
deficit, but it would be the closest Rollins would get.
The Falcons scored its first run in the first inning after
back-to-back hits led off the game. Jason Cusumano reached on a
single and Brett Damato drove him in with a double to get things
started. Bentley was quieted in the following five innings before
tacking one run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.
The Tars and Falcons resume the four-game series with game two
slated for Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.
