TAMPA, Fla. (May 11, 2017) - The Tars were able to take an early
lead over the No. 5 Tampa, but couldn't hold on as UT was able to
comeback and hand Rollins a 9-4 loss.
Senior Christopher
Corbett led the Tars, (27-21, 9-13 SSC) hitting 2-2 on the
night. The Stokesdale, N.C. native managed to hit a single, double,
and drove in a RBI. Nick
Breen batted 2-4, and chipped in a double to help the Tars, and
eventually score. Sam
LaFontaine went 1-4 from the plate, and tallied two RBI.
Kevin Santa and J.D. Osborne led the way for the Spartans
(35-12, 18-4 SSC) offensively. Santa filled up the stat sheet going
3-4 with a double, a home run, and an RBI. SSC RBI leader Osborne
added to his total with a home run and three RBI on the
evening.
The Tars bullpen saw three different pitchers make an appearance
on the mound. Garrett
Leonard got the start pitching 2.2 innings, allowing three hits
and two earned runs with four strikeouts. Freshman AJ
Chacon came in and threw 3.1 innings for the Tars, and was hit
with the loss, only his third on the year. Joey
Vecchione came in to finish the last two innings of the game
for the Tars, scattering five hits, allowing three runs, and
recording a strikeout.
For the Spartans, Jordan Leasure got the nod for the start.
Leasure threw five innings, giving up seven hits and three runs,
but also recorded five strikeouts. Cody Martin came on and gave the
Spartans a lift from the mound, picking up the win, his third of
the year. Garrett Cave was credited with the save for the Spartans,
his fourth, which is second best on the team.
This was a single game between the Tars and Spartans before the
Tars and Spartans will meet again on May 12, for doubleheader
action set to begin at 12 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED: • It was the Tars who would jump out to an
early 2-0 lead over the fifth ranked Spartans, as the two freshman
Nick
Santucci and Sam
LaFontaine combined to bring in two runs in the top of the
second inning.
• The Spartans would not stay down for long, as they
answered and re-took the lead from the Tars after scoring three
runs in the bottom of the third inning. Tampa led 3-2
• This time it was the Tars who would comeback in the top
of the fourth to tie the game at three, when LaFontaine brought in
Grant
Ashline for the single score.
• The scoring would continue in the seventh inning for both
teams, as the Tars were able to put up a single run when Corbett
doubled to bring Peter
Nicoletto home. The Spartans would hit back to back home runs
on the Tars to give themselves a 5-4 lead.
• Tampa would add to their lead in the bottom of the
seventh, scoring a single run to bring their lead to 6-4.
• The Spartans explode and put up three runs in the bottom
of the eighth inning to distance themselves from the Tars and earn
their 35th victory of the year.
NOTES: • Rollins trails the all-time series against the
Spartans, 104-29-1. • Peter
Nicoletto is currently on a 12 game hit streak
• Rollins is 7-8 on the road this season
• Neither team committed an error on the night
NEXT: The Tars and the Spartans will meet to play a doubleheader
on May 12, 2017, in both team's final regular season game. The
first game of the doubleheader will begin at 12pm.
The Fans can follow all the action live on the Geico Tars Sports
Network at RollinsSports.com.
