CARY, N.C. (June 4, 2022) – The 20th-ranked and sixth-seeded Rollins baseball team fell to eighth-ranked and third-seeded Southern Arkansas by a score of 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in the opening game of the NCAA II College World Series at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The Tars will now face the loser of Saturday night's game between fourth-ranked and No. 2 seed Point Loma and 23rd-ranked and No. 7 seed Illinois – Springfield in an elimination game on Monday, June 6 at 1:30 p.m.
Nick Santucci finished 2-for-4 with a run scored while
Joey Rubin and
Chase Achuff each went 1-for-4.
Ryan Coleman was 1-for-3 and
Cameron Meehan delivered the Tars' lone RBI.
Jaylyn Whitehead (10-3) took the loss despite tossing an eight-inning complete game, allowing just three runs on five hits, walking one and striking out eight.
Conner Allen was 1-for-3 with a three-run home run for the Muleriders, while Tucker Burton and Chris Lyles each finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Jeremy Adorno (15-0) pitched a complete game to get the win for SAU, surrendering a run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Inning
- Rubin reached on an error to lead off the game and Achuff followed with a single to put two on with no outs.
- After back-to-back strikeouts, both runners were able to move up 90 feet on a passed ball.
- The Tars couldn't cash in as Santucci grounded out to end the frame.
Second Inning
- The Muleriders got their only runs of the game thanks to a two-out rally in the second.
- Burton singled to center with two away and Lyles followed up with a base hit to left.
- Allen then hit an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence to put Southern Arkansas ahead, 3-0.
Seventh Inning
- Santucci opened the seventh with a single to right and Parker Smith was hit by the very next pitch, giving Rollins two runners with nobody out for the second time in the game.
- Coleman then lined a single to right to load the bases with nobody out, setting up the Tars' best scoring chance of the afternoon.
- Meehan hit an 0-1 pitch into shallow center field that dropped in front of the center field, allowing Santucci to score, but SAU was able to cut down Smith at third base on a force out.
- Jared Herron hit the next pitch to the third baseman who started a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning, limiting the Tars to just one run.
Ninth Inning
- Adorno put the Tars down in order in both the eighth and the ninth innings, preventing a late-inning comeback and securing the 3-1 win for Southern Arkansas.
UP NEXT:
The Tars will play on Monday, June 6 at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game against either Point Loma or Illinois – Springfield.
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