Hawks Outslug Tars in Series Opener

WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 16, 2023) - Even though Cape Canaveral sits 58 miles from campus, Alfond Stadium felt like a launching pad on Thursday in the series opener between #17 Quincy and Rollins. In the end, Quincy held on for an 11-7 victory, dropping the Tars to 2-3 on the year.

After stranding a runner on second after a double to lead off the game, Rollins had a great chance to take an early lead with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. Unfortunately, a grounder to third would end the inning and leave Rollins scoreless. 

Quincy got on the board first in the second inning with a leadoff home run from Nolan Wosman. The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the fourth when the Hawks padded their lead. Brock Boynton barely snuck a flyball around the right field foul pole, plating two runs while making the score 3-0. Rollins would get one run back when Parker Smith blasted a ball over the center field fence in the bottom half to make it a 3-1 game.

The fifth inning was one to forget for the Tars as Quincy went back-to-back-to-back with their 3-4-5 hitters to balloon their lead to 7-1. 

The Hawks added one more run in the sixth, but the Tars weren't done yet. In the bottom half of the inning, it was Smith again playing the role of big bopper, this time sending an oppo taco over the right field fence for a three-run dinger, cutting the lead to 8-4. 

Quincy, who has been in Florida for the past week playing SSC schools, showcased their high-powered offense again in the seventh, scoring twice more on an RBI single. 

Heading into the eighth inning, Rollins trailed 10-4. They took advantage of reliever Joe Byers, striking for four base hits in the inning that would bring in three runs. Playing to the script of the day, the Hawks were able to get one back in the top of the ninth to make the final of 11-7. Rollins went down in order in their last at bat in the ninth. 

A total of seven home runs were hit in this one between the two teams. Parker Smith led the Tars offense, going 2-4 with two runs and four RBI. Joey Rubin, Adams Torres, Jeslyn Whitehead and Ryan Coleman also joined Smith with two hits each. The two teams tied in hits with 13 each, but Quincy had far more base runners thanks to eight walks from Tars pitching.

The series will continue on Friday, February 17 in Winter Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm at Alfond Stadium.