WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 1, 2023) – The Rollins Tars saw their win streak extend to seven games on Wednesday with a walkoff win over the visiting Findlay Oilers, 12-11. Rollins now stands at 9-3 on the year, while Findlay falls to 4-4.
The Oilers struck first in the top of the first, but Rollins was quick to respond.
Joey Rubin,
Adams Torres, and
Jeslyn Whitehead went double, single, single to start.
Jorge Ramirez followed by getting hit by a pitch, and then
Ryan Coleman brought in a run on a grounder. A throwing error allowed a third run to score, giving Rollins a 3-1 advantage.
Findlay put together four runs on three hits and a Rollins error in the top half of the second to take a 5-3 lead. They would extend it to 8-3 with three more runs in the fourth.
The Tars cut into the led in the bottom of the fifth when Ramirez walked with two outs, and was subsequently brought in on a no-doubt home run from
Ryan Coleman over the right field wall.
Findlay took one run back in the sixth, but Rollins again was able to answer back.
Parker Smith doubled to left, and was driven in by
Axel Post. Four batters later, Ramirez was hit by a pitch to bring in Post and make the score 9-7.
After reliever
Ryan Murphy fired a scoreless seventh, Rollins completed the comeback in the bottom half.
Cameron Meehan led off with a double to left, followed by walks to Jimmy Theis and
Parker Smith. Post brought in Meehan on a groundout, followed by a sac fly from Rubin to tie the game at nine.
The Tars' joy was short-lived as a solo home run in the top of the eighth from Cam Farrar helped Findlay reclaim the lead. Thankfully, the Tars had a reverse card in their pocket. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Ramirez was hit by a pith for the third time in the game. He was replaced by pinch-runner
Jack Herring, who was moved to third when Coleman launched a double off the center field wall. With two in scoring position, it was Meehan coming through in the clutch, punching a single through the right side to plate both runners, giving Rollins an 11-10 lead.
Again, Findlay refused to lay down, scoring in the top of the ninth on a two-out single. All that did was set the stage for the Tars.
Parker Smith led off with a walk, and was pinch-run for by
Kyle Bullock. A wild pitch moved Bullock to second, and he would end up on third on a groundball. With two outs and a tie game,
Adams Torres laced a single into right center to bring in Bullock and seal the 12-11 Tars win.
Four Tars had two hits in this one, led by Coleman's dinger and double. He also scored twice and drove in three. Post was strong out of the nine hole with two hits, a run and two RBI.
Tate Stone-Frisina earned the win by pitching the ninth for the Tars.
Next up for Rollins is a three-game set at Lynn starting on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM in Boca Raton.
