TAMPA, Fla. (March 31, 2023) - Rollins scored a huge win on Friday evening, defeating the #2 ranked Tampa Spartans on their home field by a score of 5-3. The win moves Rollins, #11 in the most recent NCBWA poll, to 21-8 on the season and 11-2 in SSC play.
The Spartans struck first in the bottom of the first with an RBI double. They would eventually load the bases after the initial run, but Rollins starter
Edward Berry escaped further damage by inducing a groundout to second base.
The Tars then struck back in the top half of the second.
Ryan Coleman tied things up with a mammoth blast to right center, his seventh dinger of the year. Moments later,
Spencer Sarringar singled home
Jack Herring to give Rollins the one-run advantage.
Rollins then added to their lead in the third when
Cameron Meehan stroked a single into center field to plate
Jeslyn Whitehead. Tampa was quick to respond in the bottom half with a run of their own on a sac fly to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
Innings four, five and six were scoreless as each team called on relief pitching help to keep it tight. In the top of the seventh, Rollins was able to add to their lead. Sarringar led off by reaching on an error. The next two batters moved him to third on a grounder and a single. The Rollins catcher then scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.
The Tars' fitth and final run came in the eighth inning when Meehan led off with a double. After moving to third on a groundout, Meehan scored on a
Parker Smith base knock.
Tampa added a solo home run in the eighth inning, but would get no closer than 5-3.
Tate Stone-Frisina, who relieved Berry after the fifth inning, was incredibly effective for the final four innings of the game. He earned his second save of the year while Berry secured the win.
Meehan, Herring and Smith each had two hits to lead the offense. Seven of the nine Tars starters recorded a hit in the game.
Games two and three of the series will be played in doubleheader fashion on Saturday, April 1. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
