WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 20, 2016) - A week
after scoring thirty-five runs in a three-game series against
Bentley, Rollins scored thirty-five runs in a doubleheader sweep
against Claflin on Saturday. The two wins make it four straight for
the Tars, pushing their overall record to 6-5 (1-2 SSC). The
Claflin Panthers fall to 4-9 on the season.
The Tars amassed thirty-nine hits on the day, including seven
from second baseman Nick
Breen and five apiece from Peter
Nicoletto and Isaiah
Russell. Nineteen of those hits went for extra bases; eight
doubles, nine triples and two homeruns. Senior Skip
Kovar was responsible for much of the power, as he finished the
day 4-8 with a single, two triples and a monster homerun to dead
center field. Kovar scored twice and drove in seven.
The Tars jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first
of game one when Kover stroked a two-out triple down the right
field line, knocking in three runs. After Claflin got one run back
in the top of the second, Rollins would tack on six more in the
bottom half, courtesy of a two-run triple from Breen, a RBI
groundout from Tyler
Fairbanks and the aforementioned homerun off the bat of Kovar
that sailed well over the 405' marker in center. With the score at
9-1 the game was out of reach for Claflin, but the Tars offense was
not done.
After adding a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings,
Rollins would add five more in the eighth inning. Breen and Thomas
Boyajian started the inning off with back-to-back triples. A
pair of walks would then load the bases for Joey
Vecchione, who promptly delivered a fly ball over the wall in
left for a grand slam, giving the Tars seventeen runs. Claflin
would add three in the top of the ninth before bowing out to a
final score of 17-5.
Mike
Gaughan started the game for the Tars, allowing two runs (one
earned) over three innings. He struck out five and walked four. Brandon
Burgess would pitch brilliantly in relief, giving up only one
hit and one walk in four innings, earning himself the win. Brett
Scafidi fired a perfect eighth, while Caleb
Jakes finished the ninth for the Tars.
The Panthers jumped out to an early lead against Rollins starter
Brian
Auerbach in game two, plating a pair on a homerun from Reginald
Rogers. The lead would not last however, as the Tars bats stayed
hot in the bottom half of the frame. They would send thirteen
batters to the plate, scoring nine runs on eight hits. Breen and Mike
Purcell each had two hits during the inning. Claflin would add
one in the top of the third on an RBI groundout, but once again the
Tars would answer. Two runs in the fifth and three more in the
sixth would give Auerbach (3-1) plenty of breathing room on his way
to the win. Claflin added three runs late in the game, but the Tars
would score four of their own, making a final of 18-6. Senior Matt
Hendricks would earn his second save of the year by pitching
three innings of relief.
Thirteen different Tars scored at least one run on Saturday,
while twelve drove in at least one run. In addition to the
thirty-nine hits, Rollins hitters showed an impressive batter's
eye, walking fourteen times. The Tars have scored ninety-three runs
in eleven games, and will look to add to that total on Sunday when
they face the Panthers in the series finale. First pitch at Alfond
Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Rollins
baseball team, fans can visit RollinsSports.com. Fans can also
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