WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 21, 2011) - Senior
pitchers Steven Gropler and Will Krasne combined for nine innings
of three-hit baseball as the Rollins Tars (22-19, 4-12) upset the
No. 8 Barry Buccaneers in a 2-0 shutout at Alfond Stadium Thursday
night.
In his third start of the year, senior Steven Gropler (2-0)
tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings scattering three hits while
striking out five to get his second win of the year. Will Krasne
stepped in to close out the contest with 1 1/3 innings of work
giving up no hits and fanning two.
The hot bat for Rollins was lead-off batter Nick Adams as the
shortstop was 3-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Also getting
hits for Rollins was Tony Brunetti, Brooks McMinn, Zach Persky,
Chris Holloway, and Josh Band.
It was a pitcher's duel throughout much of the nine-inning
contest as both teams remained scoreless through the first three
innings. Brooks McMinn scored Rollins' first run in the bottom of
the fourth after reaching on a double and advancing on a Zach
Persky single, along with a costly Barry error by second baseman
Matt Petty.
Rollins remained quiet up until the bottom of the seventh with
runners on the corners and no outs. Junior Nick Adams came up big
for the Tars getting a shot up the middle driving in Chris Holloway
to give Rollins the 2-0 lead and the win.
Only two Barry Bucs (30-14, 16-3) managed to get hits off the
Tars with first baseman Dean Green getting two and left fielder
Lyndon Coleman one. Starting pitcher Manny Rodriguez (5-3) was
charged with the loss tossing 6 1/3 innings and striking out eight
Rollins batters. He gave up one earned run on eight hits and
walked four.
Rollins returns to the field tomorrow afternoon as they wrap up
the three-game set with Barry. First pitch is slated for Noon.
Fans can following along by checking out the Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.com.
