WINTER PARK, Fla. -
The Rollins College baseball team committed six errors in a 12-4
loss to the third-ranked Tampa Spartans, Friday evening at Alfond
Stadium.
The six errors were a season-high for the Tars (24-14, 7-6 Sunshine
State Conference) as they were also out-hit by the Spartans (36-5,
16-0), 15-9.
Junior left fielder Tony
Brunetti was one of the lone bright spots for the Tars as he
finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. The Canfield,
Ohio native increased his team-high RBI total to 43.
Fellow outfielder Taylor Ferguson added two
more hits to round out the hitters with multiple base hits. A
native of Charlton, Mass., Ferguson regained the team's top spot in
batting average with a .353 mark.
The Tars fell behind early as the Spartans were able to score four
runs in the first off of starter Stephen Hiscock (5-2).
Rollins answered with two runs in the bottom portion of the frame
on a wild pitch and a Ferguson RBI-single to cut into the
deficit.
A solo home run by Correy Figueroa in the following inning, built
the lead to 5-2, before Rollins tacked on another run in the third
to trim the advantage to three. Shortstop Justin Yount reached on
a Tampa error and stole second to place himself in scoring
position. A Brunetti double ensued to score Yount.
In the fifth, Tampa separated itself with three runs in the frame
before scattering four more runs over the final three innings.
Hiscock suffered the loss after tossing six innings and allowing
eight runs, despite four of them being earned. William Krasne, Robbie
Pagano and Marc Hewett all recorded one
inning of relief pitching, but each gave up at least one run.
For the Spartans, John Wiedenbauer (5-1) secured the win after
throwing six innings and surrendering three runs. Aaron Gerbasi
and Austin Evans pitched the last three innings to preserve the
Tampa victory.
With the win, the Tars had their four-game winning streak snapped.
The Spartans have also won the last six meetings of the series.
The teams will wrap up their three-game conference series with a
doubleheader, Saturday, at Alfond Stadium. First pitch is slated
for 1 p.m.
