SAINT LEO, Fla. (February 7, 2023) - Rollins improved to 2-0 on the young season with an impressive road win at Saint Leo on Tuesday evening.
Playing their second mid-week, non-conference game against a SSC school in the past week, Rollins established themselves early in this one.
Joey Rubin,
Cameron Meehan and
Adams Torres opened the game up with three straight singles. After a
Jeslyn Whitehead sac fly brought in a run,
Ryan Coleman cleared the bases with his first dinger of the year. Both
Parker Smith and
Kyle Bullock would reach base as well in the inning, but were left stranded.
In the top of the second, Rubin showed off his leadoff pop with a solo bomb to left center, making the score 5-0. Then, in the third, Rubin was able to strike again. After a Bullock double drove in
Jimmy Thies, Rubin ripped a single to right field to bring in Bullock and make it a 7-0 ballgame.
Kieran Casey drew the start for the Tars, and was on a pitch count coming into the game. He made the most of his allowance, tossing 3.2 innings of one-run ball. He was helped greatly by outstanding defense behind him as Saint Leo stranded seven runners on base. They did mange to push one run across in the bottom of the fourth on a single up the middle, but
Spencer Mangum came in to quell any further damage.
After Theis and Bullock both reached via base hits in the top of the seventh, it was Rubin once more coming through for the Tars. This time, he pushed a single through the left side that brought in Thies for his fourth hit of the night. Moments later, a fielding error by the Lions' left fielder would allow Rubin to score.
Saint Leo made the score respectable in their last ditch effort in the bottom of the ninth, plating three runs on three hits and an error. Nevertheless, Rollins was able to hang on for the 9-4 win.
The Tars posted 16 hits on the night, with four from Rubin, four from Bullock, and two apiece from Torres, Whitehead, and Thies. Casey earned the win for Rollins on the mound, movig to 1-0 on the year.
Rollins will head to Pensacola this weekend for their first series of the season. They will take on the West Florida Argonuats on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
