WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 16, 2013) - Brett
Mueller and Taylor
Smith combined for 17 strikeouts Saturday afternoon in a
lengthy 16-inning battle against the Bentley Falcons. The Tars
suffered the loss, 4-3, in the opening game of the three-game
series at Alfond Stadium.
The 16-inning affair ties the most innings played for Rollins
and dates back to 1991 when the Tars faced Wake Forest during the
44th Annual Rollins College Baseball Week. The Tars
lost 5-4 to the Demon Deacons.
Bentley out-hit the Tars 14-13 but committed two more defensive
miscues than the home team (4-2). Rollins also record 19 total
strikeouts to Bentley's two.
Mueller, in his third appearance this season, tossed 7.0
innings, allowing two runs on five hits. The southpaw fanned six
and issued a pair of walks. Smith, who received his third
no-decision, tossed the next 7.0 innings and struck out a
career-best 11, while allowing one run on six hits and issued three
walks.
Saturday's match-up featured strong pitching performances from
both teams. As Bentley jumped to an early 2-0 lead after four
innings of play, the Tars jumped on the board in the home half of
the fourth. Anthony
Figliolia scored the first run for the Tars as he led off the
inning with a walk, stole second and then scored on a two-out
grounder to the pitcher.
Rollins then evened the score in the bottom of the fifth as Evan
Rivera crossed the plate on a grounder to first.
The Tars held Bentley scoreless through six innings through the
combined efforts of Mueller and Smith. Smith, who relieved Mueller
in the eighth, struck out the side in his first inning of work.
Heading into extra-innings, the Falcons took a one-run lead in
the top of the 11th but was taken back in the home half
on Brandon
Curson's only run of the game. The senior singled through the
left side, stole second and scored on a RBI single by Rivera.
The back-and-forth battle continued through the following four
innings. The Tars lost out on an opportunity to score in the
bottom of the 15th when Brandon
Curson blasted a two-out double to right, stole third and tried
to take home on a Bentley wild pitch. The ball touched the netting
behind the plate and was called a dead ball, allowing Curson to
advance just one base.
In the top of the 16th, Bentley plated a run to give
the Falcons a one-run advantage and would be all that they needed
as Connor Root retired the inning on a strikeout to end the game.
Root earned the win in 3.0 innings of work. He struck out one and
allowed two hits and no runs.
Jack
Murray was charged with his second loss of the season in 2.0
innings of work. The southpaw fanned two, allowed two hits and
gave up the winning run.
Brandon
Curson had a stellar day at the plate with a 4-for-7
performance with a double, triple, one run and a pair of stolen
bases. Evan
Rivera was 3-for-6 with a run and RBI.
The Tars will return to Alfond Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 17 as
they take on the Bentley Falcons for game two of the series. First
pitch is set for 2 p.m. Fans can catch all the action live on the
Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com.
