Tars Downed by Saint Leo in Home Opener

WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 9, 2022) - The Rollins baseball team had its 2022 home opener spoiled by visiting Saint Leo on Wednesday night. The Tars took an early 5-0 lead, but the Lions roared back to capture a 9-8 win. With the loss, Rollins drops to 1-2 on the season, while Saint Leo moves to 4-1. Wednesday's game was considered a non-conference contest for the two teams.

Cameron Meehan was 1-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored, and four RBIs, while Nick Santucci finished 2-for-5 with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI. Parker Smith went 2-for-5 with a double and run scored and Jeslyn Whitehead finished 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.

Nick Berger started for the Tars, allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work. Alfredo Caraballo (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits in 0.2 innings.

Buck Anderson went 3-for-5 with a double, two stolen bases, two runs scored, and three RBIs to lead the offense for the Lions. Tyler Trovinger was 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored three times, while Bobby Sparling finished 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

Peyton Petry started for Saint Leo, allowing five runs on four hits in two innings, walking two and striking out one. Drew Rudsinski (1-0) picked up the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings, surrendering one hit and striking out one. Jestin Jones  pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season, allowing one unearned one on one hit while striking out one.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Inning

• Santucci led off with a single and moved to second on a ground ball by Chase Achuff.
• Adams Torres then singled to right-center, scoring Santucci with the first run of the game.
• After Jeslyn Whitehead walked, Smith singled to load the bases.
• Meehan then stepped up and launched a grand slam over the right-center field fence, putting the Tars up 5-0.

Second Inning

• Saint Leo quickly answered, using a pair of singles sandwiched around a productive groundout to produce its first run of the game, making it a 5-1 ballgame.

Third Inning

• The Lions added a second run to make it 5-2.
• Anderson singled and then stole second before scoring on a two-out single by Sparling.

Fourth Inning

• Saint Leo chipped away again in the fourth, scoring another run to cut the deficit to 5-3.
• Trovinger led off with a single and moved to third on a base hit by Adrien Roa before scoring on a fielder's choice.

Fifth Inning

• The Tars tacked on a run in the fifth thanks to three consecutive hits.
• Jeslyn Whitehead singled with one out and moved to third when Smith hit a ground-rule double that rolled through the fence in left field.
• After Meehan walked to load the bases, Aiden Healy delivered an RBI base hit to score Jeslyn Whitehead.
• Unfortunately the Tars couldn't push any more runs across, stranding the bases loaded.

Sixth Inning

• Saint Leo sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth, pushing four runs across.
• Three of the first four batters reach via hit-by-pitch to load the bases.
• With two outs, Anderson delivered a two-run double to make it a 6-5 game.
• Dylan McDonald then laced a two-run single to give the Tars a 7-6 lead.

 

• The Tars answered right back in their half of the inning, with Santucci leading off with a bunt single that went over the pitcher's head.
• Achuff then singled, pushing Santucci to the third; Achuff promptly stole second, giving Rollins two runners in scoring position with nobody out.
• Torres followed with a sac fly to score Santucci with the tying run, but Rollins couldn't capitalize any further, ending the inning tied at seven.

Eighth Inning

• The Lions used four singles to score twice to take the lead in the eighth.
• Trovinger led off with a single and later came home on a base hit, giving Saint Leo an 8-7 advantage.
• Anderson then singled home another run, pushing the Lions to a 9-7 lead.

Ninth Inning

• The Tars made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth.
• Meehan reached on an error and moved to second on an infield single by Ryan Coleman.
• Both runners advanced on a passed ball, putting the potential tying run in scoring position with only one out.
• Andres Antonini then hit a routine pop-up to second base, but Anderson dropped it, putting a Tar at each base.
• Santucci hit a grounder to short that scored Meehan, but Santucci was called out on a bang-bang play at first.
• Jones was able to get the 27th out via a strikeout, giving Saint Leo a 9-8 win.

UP NEXT:
Rollins will host No. 10 West Florida this weekend in a three-game series at Alfond Stadium at Harper-Shepherd Field. The two teams will meet first on Friday at 5 p.m.

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