MELBOURNE, Fla. (March 18, 2023) - Four errors led to five unearned runs, and ultimately, a loss to the Florida Tech Panthers on Saturday night. Rollins now stands at 16-7 on the year, and 6-2 in SSC play.
The game was a slow-starter as pitchers Mitch Harding and
Nick Berger were both dealing. Rollins had multiple chances early on to score, but left a runner on third inning in both the second and third innings.Â
Florida Tech broke through in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a couple of defensive miscues from the Tars. With two outs and the bases loaded, an error at short allowed the Panthers to score a run. With the inning continuing, they paid a further price when the next hitter, Austin Sewell, drove in two more with a base hit to left to make it 3-0.Â
Rollins attempted to comeback in the seventh. With two outs,
Adams Torres singled to left, and moved to third on a
Jeslyn Whitehead base hit.
Ryan Coleman then delivered a single to center to plate Torres. After a fielder's choice reloaded the bases,
Jack Herring drew a bases loaded walk to bring home Whitehead and make it a one-run game.Â
The Tars had a great opportunity to make one final push in the top of the eighth when
Parker Smith doubled to lead off the inning.
Kency McCombe entered the game as a pinch-runner, and moved to third on a groundout. Unfortunately, the Tars couldn't bring him home as the next two hitters grounded and flew out to strand the runner.Â
The Panthers added two more runs in the bottom half thanks to two more errors from the Tars, making the final of 5-2.Â
Berger turned in a quality start while taking the loss. He threw six innings, scattered six hits, gave up three unearned runs, and struck out three.Â
The rubber match of the series will take place on Sunday, March 19 in Melbourne. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.Â
