WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 5, 2011) - On a
cold and rainy day at Alfond Stadium, the Rollins Tars baseball
team dropped Saturday's twin bill to the West Florida Argonauts.
Rollins dropped game one 8-3 and followed with a 9-3 loss in game
two.
With the loss, Rollins starts the 2011 season 0-2, while West
Florida extends their win streak to four, 4-0.
In game one, starting pitcher Will Krasne was a little shaky out
of the gates as he was unable to close out the inning after the
first two UWF batters were sent back to the bench. Krasne pitched
3 2/3 innings before Head Coach Jon Sjogren pulled him and replaced
him with LHP Cori Warren. Krasne fanned four and walked three
during his time on the mound.
After trailing the Argos by eight runs, Rollins got hot in the
bottom of the eighth as the Tars put up three runs. Rollins loaded
the bases twice and forced three UWF pitching changes. Returning
from a medical redshirt, senior John Avanzino scored Rollins' first
run of the day after he doubled to left center. Avanzino finished
2-for-3 with two doubles, a run, and a walk.
Two batters later, catcher and Florida International transfer
Sean Reilly scored from second on a Steve Betcherman double down
the right field line. Freshman Zach Persky scored the Tars final
run of the game on a bases loaded fielder's choice. Reilly went
1-for-3 with a run, RBI, and a walk, while Persky went 1-for-4 with
a run.
West Florida starting pitcher Jason Postill earned his first win
of the year with seven innings of work, five strikeouts, and one
walk. UWF closer Shane Waller also picked up his first save of the
year with 1 1/3 innings of work and four strikeouts.
Once again, Rollins struggled in game two with the 9-3 loss.
Despite scoring early in the contest on a Tony Brunetti RBI single
driving in newcomer Chris Holloway, the Tars gave up their
short-lived lead in two big innings.
The Tars gave up four runs during the second frame and another
five in the fifth. Rollins starting pitcher Taylor Smith gave up
the first seven of the game and was credited the loss (0-1), while
relief pitcher James Kimsey gave up the last two - on wild
pitches. Rollins found comfort in LHP Matt White as he saw action
in the last 2 2/3 innings of the seven-inning contest. White
fanned four and walked one.
Making his debut in a Tars uniform, Jordan Morey scored 1-of-2
runs during the fourth, while catcher Ryan Harvey scored the
other. Morey was 0-for-2 with a run scored and a walk and Harvey
finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.
West Florida's starting pitcher Ben Hawkins was awarded the win
(1-0) with four innings of work on the mound. First baseman Kenny
Stalls went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs, and an RBI.
The Rollins Tars wrap up opening weekend tomorrow afternoon as
they host West Florida in Game 3 of the weekend series. First
pitch is slated for 1 p.m. For live action of the Tars, check out
RollinsSports.com.
