WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 13, 2021) - Playing for the first time in more than a year, Rollins Baseball fought hard for 16 innings and earned a split doubleheader against the #7 Barry Buccaneers at home on Saturday.
Game One: Barry 8, Rollins 4
Barry jumped out to an early lead in game one, plating a run on a Richie Sobalvarro single. Rollins was able to answer back in the bottom of the second when
Cody Oerther drove in
Jack Gonzalez on a deep sac fly to right field. The Tars then took a lead in the third when
Nick Santucci launched a two-out solo dinger over the right field wall. The Buccaneers were quick to respond in the top of the fourth with a pair of two-out singles that plated two, making the score 3-2. After a Connor Ashby home run made the lead 4-2, Rollins got one back on a throwing error in the bottom of the sixth.
The wheels fell off for the Tars pitchers in the eighth inning as they hit a batter, walked five, and allowed a double which led to four Barry runs.
Jack Gonzalez scored
Tyler Colson on a double in the eighth to make it 8-4, which would end up being the final score.
Tate Stone-Frisina earned the start for Rollins, tossing five innings of four-run baseball. He also struck out five.
Michael Cullen,
Kyle Bachle,
Justin Driscoll and
Jack Tomich also made appearances on the mound for the Tars. Frank Gonzalez II earned his second win of the season for Barry with 5.1 innings and six strikeouts.
Game Two: Rollins 5, Barry 4
The nightcap featured more of a pitcher's duel for most of the game. Sobalvarro picked up his second RBI of the day by driving in JC Garcia on an infield single in the first inning. Ihosvany Casteneda then extended the lead with a solo bomb to right field to make it 2-0. Santucci cut the lead in half with an absolute moonshot to right center in the fourth, making it 2-1. The score would stay that way until the seventh when JC Garcia plated a pair with a single through the middle of the infield that scored Omar Baldo and Bran Socorro.
With their backs against the wall, Rollins was able to rally in the final frame.
Luke Reidy reached base the hard way, wearing a one-out fastball off the batting helmet.
Eddie Ayala then followed suit by drawing a walk. Both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Sam Lafontaine then drew a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for pinch-hitter
Cody Oerther. The junior catcher battled, and sent a two-strike pitch to left-center on a line drive, plating Reidy and Ayala. The outfielder misplayed the hop, which allowed both LaFontaine and Oerther to advance. An intentional walk to
Kyle Bullock reloaded the bases, which led to a big moment for leadoff man
Cameron Meehan. Barry opted to leave their pitcher, Anthony Boix in the game, which proved to be a mistake. Meehan launched a two-strike fastball to deep left-center, plating two runs and earning the walkoff win for the Tars.
Santucci was the standout on offense, with three extra-base hits and ten total bases on the day. Oerther collected three RBI on the day.
Jaylyn Whitehead looked great in his Tars debut, spinning five innings of two-run ball with six punchouts.
Rollins next game will be at home on Wednesday, March 17th as the Tars host Florida Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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