Late Long Balls Carry Tars Past Cardinals

Box Score WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 6, 2023) - Rollins survived an early scare, but turned their game against Saginaw Valley State into a 9-3 blowout. The win moves Rollins to 12-4 on the season.

The first three innings were uneventful as starting pitchers Steve Hecht and Ryan Furey were dealing. The Cardinals struck first n the top of the fourth when they hung two on the Tars. Rollins got one run back in the bottom half when Jimmy Thies brought in Ryan Coleman, who had tripled to lead off the inning. Rollins would then tie things up in the fifth when a Jeslyn Whitehead single scored Joey Rubin. 

Saginaw retook the lead in the sixth on a groundout RBI, but the Tars were quick to respond once more. Jack Herring walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Three batters later, Rubin stroked a double to bring him in, but the Cardinals got out of the inning by throwing out Parker Smith at home. 

Spencer Mangum got into, and was able to work out of, a jam in the top of the seventh, leaving the bases loaded by inducing a groundout. Rollins took advantage after the stretch. Whitehead doubled with one out, and was joined on the bases by Coleman, who singled. Next up was Cameron Meehan, who deposited a 1-0 pitch over the right-centerfield wall to make it 6-3. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Kyle Bullock annihilated a ball to left field to score two more making it 8-3. A Drew Howard double in the eighth made it 9-3.

Alfredo Caraballo was able to toss two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to close out the game. 

Rubin and Whitehead each had three hits to lead the offense. Five different Tars scored and drove in at least one run. 

These two teams will meet up once more on Tuesday, March 7 in Winter Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.