MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (February 3, 2022) - The Rollins baseball team held a 2-0 lead through four innings on Thursday, but a four-run fifth for NAIA No. 17 St. Thomas was enough to lift the Bobcats to a 4-2 come-from-behind win. The loss evens the Tars' mark at 1-1 on the young season, while STU improves to 2-0.
Parker Smith finished 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, while
Adams Torres was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.
Chase Achuff,Â
Kyle Bullock, and
Sam Tanous also picked up doubles in the game.
Nick Berger started and threw two scoreless innings, allowing a walk and a hit with one strikeout.
Tate Stone-Frisina (0-1) was dealt the loss, allowing all four runs on three hits and a walk with a hit batter in 0.2 innings of relief.
Emanuel Montesino went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Bobcats, while Ezequiel Valdez was 2-for-2 with two walks, two stolen bases, a run scored, and an RBI. Gio Soto pitched the first 3.1 innings, giving up both Rollins runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three. Crosby Bringhurst (1-0) earned the win with 1.2 perfect innings of relief with one strikeout. Fernando Medina got his first save of the year, striking out the side while allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Second Inning
- Torres doubled with one out to give Rollins its first baserunner of the afternoon.
- Smith came up next and belted a two-run home run over the left-field fence to put the Tars up 2-0.
Fifth Inning
- The Bobcats batted around in the fifth, plating four runs in the process.
- After the leadoff man was hit by a pitch, Chris Schoeller and Valdez stroked back-to-back singles, with Valdez driving home Andrew Fernandez to make it a 2-1 game.
- After Stone-Frisina got the next two batters to line out, Angelo Piloto kept the inning alive by drawing a walk to load the bases.
- During the next at-bat, Schoeller came home to tie the game on a wild pitch, which also advanced the other runners to second and third.
- Montesino then singled to center, scoring both baserunners to put STU ahead, 4-2.
Eighth Inning
- The Bobcats may have been able to tack on an insurance run in the eighth, were it not for the pickoff skills of the Tars.
- Brian Garcia singled with one out, but Chris Allande pinch ran for him and was promptly picked off at first base by Alfredo Caraballo.
- Fernandez then drew a two-out walk, but he, too, was picked off at first, this time by catcher Jared Herron.
Ninth Inning
- Tanous provided a spark in the ninth, leading off the inning with a double.
- Unfortunately for the Tars, Medina struck out the next three batters to nail down the save.
UP NEXT:
Rollins will play its first home game of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 8, when Saint Leo visits Alfond Stadium at Harper-Shepherd Field for a non-SSC game. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
Fans can follow the Tars all season long at RollinsSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest #TARnationnews by following Rollins Sports onÂ
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